2.10.1 Responsibility for investigational product(s) management, including accountability, handling, dispensing, administration and return, rests with the investigator/institution. The sponsor may facilitate aspects of investigational product management (e.g., by providing forms and technical solutions, such as computerised systems, and arranging distribution of investigational product to trial participants).
2.10.2 When the investigator/institution delegates some or all of their activities for investigational product(s) management to a pharmacist or another individual in accordance with local regulatory requirements, the delegated individual should be under the oversight of the investigator/institution.
2.10.3 Where the investigator has delegated activities related to investigational product management or aspects of these activities have been facilitated by the sponsor, the level of investigator oversight will depend on a number of factors, including the characteristics of the investigational product, route and complexity of administration, level of existing knowledge about the investigational product’s safety and marketing status.
2.10.4 The investigator/institution and/or a pharmacist or other appropriate individual should maintain records of the product’s delivery, the inventory, the use by each participant (including documenting that the participants were provided the doses specified by the protocol) and the return to the sponsor and destruction or alternative disposition of unused product(s). These records should include dates, quantities, batch/serial numbers, expiration dates (if applicable) and the unique code numbers assigned to the investigational product(s) and trial participants. For authorised medicinal products, alternative approaches to the aforementioned may be considered, in accordance with local regulatory requirements.
2.10.5 The investigational product(s) should be stored as specified by the sponsor and in accordance with applicable regulatory requirement(s).
2.10.6 The investigator should ensure that the investigational product(s) are used only in accordance with the approved protocol.
2.10.7 Where applicable, the investigator or a person designated by the investigator/institution should explain the correct use of the investigational product(s) to each participant and should check, at intervals appropriate for the trial, that each participant is following the instructions properly.
2.10.8 The investigational product may be shipped to the participant’s location or supplied to/dispensed at a location closer to the participant (e.g., at a local pharmacy or a local healthcare centre). The investigational product may be administered at the participant’s location by investigator site staff, the participant themselves, a caregiver or a healthcare professional.
2.10.9 Investigational product management should be arranged and conducted in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements, and safeguards should be in place to ensure product integrity, product use per protocol and participant safety.