FDA Guidance on Shedding and Environmental Impact in Clinical Trials Involving Gene Therapy Products

The US regulatory environment is evolving to accommodate a boom in gene therapy research. The 2019 version of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Guidelines on Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules (NIH Guidelines) lacks an appendix providing specific guidance for Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) review of clinical trials.

As the field matures, the burden of Federal oversight for clinical trials of investigational products containing recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules is shifting toward the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This report summarizes recent FDA guidance documents on shedding and considerations for environmental impact assessments highlighting key points pertinent to IBC review.

This report helps biosafety professionals understand the evolving regulatory framework for gene therapy products. Knowledge of the guidance documents discussed in this report will assist biosafety professionals in addressing issues pertaining to shedding and environmental impact during IBC review of clinical trials.