On May 17, 2016, FDA issued Draft Guidance for Industry on Use of Electronic Health Record Data in Clinical Investigations (“Draft Guidance”). This Draft Guidance builds on prior FDA guidance on Computerized Systems Used in Clinical Investigations and Electronic Source Data in Clinical Investigations, and provides information on FDA’s expectations for the use of Electronic Health Record (“EHR”) data to clinical investigators, research institutions and sponsors of clinical research on drugs, biologics, medical devices and combination products conducted under an Investigational New Drug Application or Investigational Device Exemption.
While the recommendations set forth in the Draft Guidance do not represent a significant departure from existing guidance, research sponsors, institutions and investigators should consider the extent to which their existing policies and procedures, template agreements, protocols and informed consent documents should be updated to incorporate FDA’s recommendations.