Acceptance of Medical Device Clinical Data From Studies Conducted Outside the United States; Draft Guidance for Industry and Food and Drug Administration Staff; Availability

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) is announcing the availability of the draft guidance entitled ``Acceptance of Medical Device Clinical Data from Studies Conducted Outside the United States; Draft Guidance for Industry and Food and Drug Administration Staff.'' This draft guidance articulates FDA's current policy of accepting scientifically valid clinical data obtained from foreign clinical studies in support of premarket submissions for devices. The guidance describes special considerations that apply when using such data, including applicability to populations within the United States and study design issues and provides recommendations to assist sponsors in ensuring their data are adequate under applicable FDA standards to support approval or clearance of the device in the United States. This guidance is not intended to announce new policy, but to describe FDA's existing approach to this topic. This draft guidance is not final nor is it in effect at this time.