The FDA may require a post-approval study (or studies) at the time of approval of a Premarket  Approval (PMA), Humanitarian Device Exemption (HDE), or product development protocol (PDP) application to help assure continued safety and effectiveness (or continued probable benefit, in the case of an HDE) of the approved device.  

Post-approval studies are conditions of device approval. A sponsor’s failure to comply with any post-approval requirement may be grounds for withdrawing approval.

CDRH’s Post-Approval Studies Program ensures that methodologies are well-designed and conducted effectively, efficiently and in the least burdensome manner.

For more information, see:

• Guidance Document: Procedures for Handling Post-Approval Studies Imposed by PMA Order - June 15, 2009
• September 2015 GAO Report: FDA Ordered Postmarket Studies to Better Understand Safety Issues, and Many Studies Are Ongoing (PDF-845KB)

Post-Approval Studies Database

CDRH has established the Post-Approval Studies Database to share general information regarding each post-approval study ordered as condition of approval.

Go to the Database

The database provides the overall study status (based on protocol-driven timelines and the adequacy of the data) and the applicant’s current reporting status for each submission due.

The database is refreshed every Sunday with any new or revised information on study protocol parameters (e.g., patient population), overall study status, or information related to the review of data from interim or final reports.

Contact Us

Mandated Studies Program
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
10903 New Hampshire Ave.
Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002
Email: MandatedStudiesPrograms@fda.hhs.gov