21 CFR Part 312 — Investigational New Drug Applications (IND) | FDA | §§ 312.1–312.10
Statutory Basis: Section 505(i) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) prohibits the interstate shipment of any drug intended for investigational use in humans unless the sponsor has an effective Investigational New Drug Application on file with FDA. This is the foundational legal hook that makes Part 312 operative.
Purpose of the IND: The IND exists to give FDA the opportunity to review safety data and study protocols before clinical trials begin. Its twin purposes are:
Ensuring adequate preclinical data exists to support the proposed human studies (safety threshold), and
Ensuring adequate human subject protections are in place (ethical threshold).
How the IND becomes effective: An IND is not approved by FDA — it becomes effective automatically 30 calendar days after FDA receives a complete submission, unless FDA places the study on clinical hold within that window. A clinical hold is an order from FDA to delay or suspend a proposed or ongoing clinical investigation.
"A sponsor may begin a clinical investigation 30 days after FDA receives the IND, or on earlier notification by FDA that the investigation may begin." — 21 CFR §312.40(b)Two principal IND types:
Commercial IND: Sponsor is a pharmaceutical or biotechnology company; the ultimate goal is submission of a New Drug Application (NDA) or Biologics License Application (BLA). Full IND with complete CMC, pharmacology, and clinical protocol sections required.
Research (Investigator) IND: Sponsor-investigator is typically an academic physician or institution; no commercial intent. FDA applies somewhat reduced expectations, but the IND must still meet Part 312 requirements.
21 CFR Part 312 — IND Applications | FDA | §§ 312.1–312.22
21 CFR Part 312 — IND Applications | FDA | §312.23(a)(7) — CMC section
21 CFR Part 312 — IND Applications | FDA | §§ 312.30–312.33
§ 312.30 Protocol amendments.
A sponsor shall submit a protocol amendment describing any change in a Phase 1 protocol that significantly affects the safety of subjects. A sponsor shall submit a protocol amendment describing any change in a Phase 2 or 3 protocol that significantly affects the safety of subjects, the scope of the investigation, or the scientific quality of the study. Examples of changes requiring a protocol amendment include:
Any increase in drug dosage or duration of exposure of individual research subjects beyond that in the current protocol
Any significant increase in the number of research subjects
The addition of a new test article
The addition of a new clinical investigator or research site
A significant change in the study design (e.g., adding or dropping control groups)
New Protocol Amendments
A sponsor who adds a new protocol after the IND goes into effect shall submit the new protocol to FDA as a protocol amendment. The sponsor may begin the clinical investigation on the date the amendment is submitted to FDA unless the sponsor has received a clinical hold or is conducting a Phase 1 investigation, in which case FDA's 30-day review period applies before enrollment begins.
Three Categories of Protocol Amendments
New Protocol Amendment: Adding an entirely new clinical study (e.g., adding Phase 2 study to an existing Phase 1 IND). The new protocol must be submitted before any subjects are enrolled in the new study.
Protocol Change Amendment: Modifying an existing protocol — changing dose, duration of exposure, patient population, endpoints, or study design elements that affect subject safety or scientific quality.
New Investigator Amendment: Adding a new investigator or clinical site to the study. Must include a signed Form FDA 1572 (Statement of Investigator) and curriculum vitae.
When FDA Prior Approval (30-Day Wait) is Required:
Any change that represents a significant increase in risk to subjects
Adding a new indication to the IND
Phase 1 protocols: sponsor must wait 30 days after submitting the protocol amendment before initiating the study, unless FDA notifies that study may proceed earlier
Notify Within 30 Days (Information Amendment):
Minor changes that do not significantly affect subject safety, scope, or scientific quality
Administrative changes (e.g., sponsor contact information update)
Changes already reflected in other amendments submitted concurrently
"A sponsor shall submit a protocol amendment describing any change in a Phase 2 or 3 protocol that significantly affects the safety of subjects, the scope of the investigation, or the scientific quality of the study."— 21 CFR §312.30(b)
21 CFR Part 312 — IND Applications | FDA | §§ 312.50–312.70
§312.50 — General Sponsor Responsibilities
Sponsors are responsible for selecting qualified investigators and providing each investigator with the information needed to conduct an investigation properly, for ensuring proper monitoring of the investigation(s), for ensuring that the investigation(s) is conducted in accordance with the general investigational plan and protocols contained in the IND, for maintaining an effective IND with respect to the investigations, and for ensuring that FDA and all participating investigators are promptly informed of significant new adverse effects or risks with respect to the drug.
§312.51 — Transfer of Obligations to a Contract Research Organization (CRO)
A sponsor may transfer responsibility for any or all of the sponsor's obligations under this part to a contract research organization. Any such transfer shall be described in writing. If not all obligations are transferred, the writing is required to describe each obligation being assumed by the CRO. A CRO that assumes any obligation of a sponsor shall comply with the specific regulations applicable to that obligation and shall be subject to the same regulatory action as a sponsor for failure to comply with any obligation assumed under this part. The sponsor retains ultimate responsibility for all transferred obligations that the CRO fails to fulfill.
§312.52 — Use of Contract Research Organizations
If a sponsor uses a CRO, the sponsor shall transfer in writing each obligation being assumed by the CRO. The FDA may inspect the CRO to determine whether it is in compliance with the regulations applicable to the obligations assumed and whether it is performing the obligations that were transferred to it.
"A contract research organization that assumes any obligation of a sponsor shall comply with the specific regulations applicable to that obligation and shall be subject to the same regulatory action as a sponsor for failure to comply."— 21 CFR §312.52(b)
§312.53 — Selecting Investigators and Monitors
Before permitting an investigator to begin participation in an investigation, the sponsor shall obtain the following:
A signed Form FDA 1572 — Statement of Investigator — from each investigator
A curriculum vitae or other statement of qualifications of the investigator showing the education, training, and experience that qualifies the investigator as an expert in the clinical investigation of the drug for the use under investigation
A protocol describing the clinical study to be conducted by the investigator
Financial disclosure information if required under 21 CFR Part 54
The sponsor must also select a monitor who is qualified by training and experience to monitor the progress of the investigation.
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