Guidelines for Requesting Waiver to Current Supported Study Data Standard Versions
The currently supported versions of study data standards are identified in the FDA Study Data Standards Catalog.
To apply for a waiver from the requirement to submit study data using a version of a standard that is not supported as set forth in the Catalog, an email request must be sent to the appropriate FDA technical staff. For CDER-regulated IND, NDA, BLA, or ANDA submissions, requests should be addressed to: [email protected]. For CBER-regulated IND, BLA, or NDA submissions, requests should be addressed to: [email protected]. The subject line of the email should start with “Waiver Request.” The body of the email should contain the following:
- Contact person’s name (this will be the main contact)
- Contact person’s company name
- Contact person’s mailing address
- Contact person’s phone number
- Contact person’s email address
- Relevant submission types and numbers
- The specific requirement or requirements from which the sponsor or applicant is requesting a waiver
- The reason the sponsor or applicant believes that the waiver is necessary
- A description of the alternative or alternatives that the sponsor intends to use.
FDA encourages the sponsor or applicant to submit the waiver request to the FDA technical staff as early as possible during product development (e.g., when the study is being planned, which may be during the pre-IND phase) and certainly no later than the time of protocol submission to the IND. FDA will notify the sponsor or applicant in writing (e.g., in an email) as to whether the waiver request is denied or granted. The technical staff will coordinate with the applicable review division and contact the requestor concerning the status of the waiver request. Generally, FDA intends to notify the requestor within 30 days from the date the waiver request is received.