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  1. Premarket Submissions: Selecting and Preparing the Correct Submission

De Novo Classification Request

Send Medical Device eSTAR and eCopy Premarket Submissions Online

October 3, 2022 - The FDA is announcing that you may now send electronic copy (eCopy) or electronic Submission Template And Resource (eSTAR) premarket submissions online through the CDRH Customer Collaboration Portal ("CDRH Portal").

Building on the progress tracker for 510(k) submissions launched in 2021 and the trial process of electronic uploads launched in July 2022, the CDRH Portal now allows anyone to register for a CDRH Portal account to send CDRH eCopy or eSTAR premarket submissions online.

Starting October 1, 2023, all 510(k) submissions, unless exempted*, must be submitted as electronic submissions using eSTAR.

What Is a De Novo Classification Request?

The De Novo request provides a marketing pathway to classify novel medical devices for which general controls alone, or general and special controls, provide reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness for the intended use, but for which there is no legally marketed predicate device. De Novo classification is a risk-based classification process.

Devices that are classified into class I or class II through a De Novo classification request (De Novo request) may be marketed and used as predicates for future premarket notification [510(k)] submissions, when applicable.

The FDA issued a final rule to establish new regulations implementing the medical device De Novo classification process under the FD&C Act (section 513(f)(2) (21 U.S.C. 360c(f)(2)), which provides a pathway for certain new types of devices to obtain marketing authorization as class I or class II devices. The final rule provides criteria for De Novo classification requests, including requirements related to the format and content of De Novo requests, as well as processes and criteria for accepting, granting, declining, and withdrawing De Novo requests.

When and How to Prepare a De Novo Request

There are two options to submit a De Novo request for the FDA to make a risk-based evaluation for classification of the device into class I or II.

  • Option 1: After receiving a high-level not substantially equivalent (NSE) determination (that is, no predicate, new intended use, or different technological characteristics that raise different questions of safety and effectiveness) in response to a 510(k) submission.
  • Option 2: Upon the requester's determination that there is no legally marketed device upon which to base a determination of substantial equivalence (therefore without first submitting a 510(k) and receiving a high-level NSE determination).

Prior to submitting a De Novo request to the FDA, we recommend sponsors consider submitting a Pre-Submission to obtain feedback from the appropriate premarket review division.

For further information, please reference the guidance documents: De Novo Classification Process (Evaluation of Automatic Class III Designation) and Requests for Feedback and Meetings for Medical Device Submissions: The Q-Submission Program.

Content of the De Novo Request (21 CFR 860.220)

A De Novo request should include all the content elements necessary for acceptance of the De Novo request, listed in Appendix A of the "Acceptance Review for De Novo Classification Request" guidance document. The FDA intends to Refuse to Accept a De Novo request that does not include the following elements:

  • A coversheet clearly identifying the request as a "Request for Evaluation of Automatic Class III Designation" under 513(f)(2) De Novo request.
  • Administrative Information, such as the device's intended use, prescription use or over-the-counter use designated, etc.
  • Device Description, which includes but is not limited to technology, proposed conditions of use, accessories, and components.
  • Classification Information and Supporting Data:

For further information on the De Novo request content, please reference the guidance documents "De Novo Classification Process (Evaluation of Automatic Class III Designation)"  and "Acceptance Review for De Novo Classification Requests." Additionally, refer to the final rule for more information on the content of the De Novo Request.

How to Submit a De Novo Request

Online

Send eSTAR or eCopy premarket submissions online through the CDRH Customer Collaboration Portal (CDRH Portal):

By Mail

De Novo requests can be submitted in an electronic format (eCopy) to the appropriate Document Control Center (DCC). The current mailing address for CDRH's Document Control Center and a link to the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research's (CBER) Document Control Center's mailing address are provided on the eCopy Program for Medical Device Submissions webpage.

De Novo requests can also be submitted to CDRH using the electronic Submission Template And Resource (eSTAR). For more information, see the Voluntary eSTAR program. De Novo content in the eSTAR, consistent with the De Novo final rule, was provided to permit voluntary eSTAR De Novo requests to the FDA. It is anticipated that the next draft guidance on the content of the eSTAR for a specific submission type will be for De Novo requests.

We recommend submitting a De Novo request to the FDA by a method that will provide a signed receipt of delivery, for example, registered mail with a return receipt or a commercial delivery service. When CDRH or CBER receives a De Novo request, the appropriate Center assigns the request a unique document number. The De Novo number begins with "DEN" followed by six digits or "BR" followed by six digits. The first two digits represent the calendar year in which the request was received, and the last four digits represent the sequential request number for that year. For example, the first De Novo request received in the calendar year 2017 would be DEN170001 or BR170001.

The appropriate Center will provide an acknowledgment letter, including the De Novo number, usually within 7 days of receipt of the De Novo request.

Please note: Once a De Novo request is received by the FDA, we do NOT return the submission or any copies to the requester.

For assistance with De Novo requests submitted to the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), please contact 1-800-835-4709 or Industry.Biologics@fda.hhs.gov.

What Are the De Novo Request MDUFA User Fees?

De Novo requests are subject to user fees. For the current user fee amounts, please see MDUFA User Fees.

Additional information about medical device user fees and the small business determination program can be found on the Medical Device User Fees and Reduced Medical Device User Fees: Small Business Determination (SBD) Program webpages.

What is FDA's Review Process and Timeline for Requests?

Acceptance Review (21 CFR 860.230)

Upon receipt of a De Novo request, the FDA will conduct an acceptance review. The acceptance review is an administrative review to assess the completeness of the application and whether it meets the minimum threshold of acceptability. If any of the acceptance elements are not included, there should be a justification for the omission.

To aid in the acceptance review, we recommend requesters complete and submit an Acceptance Checklist (see the guidance document) with their De Novo requests that identify the location of supporting information for each checklist element.

The De Novo request will not be accepted and will receive a Refuse to Accept (RTA) designation if one or more of the elements noted as RTA items in the Acceptance Checklist are not present and no explanation is provided for the omission(s). However, during the RTA review, the FDA staff has discretion to determine whether missing checklist elements are needed to ensure the De Novo request is administratively complete to allow the De Novo request to be accepted.

Within 15 calendar days of the DCC receiving the De Novo request, the FDA will notify the requester electronically of the acceptance review result as one of the following:

  • the De Novo request has been accepted for substantive review;
  • the De Novo request has not been accepted for review (that is, considered refused to accept or RTA) and the requester has 180 calendar days to fully address the RTA notification; or
  • the De Novo request is under substantive review and the FDA did not complete the acceptance review within 15 calendar days.

Substantive Review

As part of substantive reviews, the FDA conducts a classification review of legally marketed device types and analyzes whether an existing legally marketed device of the same type exists. This information is used to confirm the device is eligible for De Novo classification.

During the substantive review of a De Novo request, the FDA may identify deficiencies that can be adequately addressed through interactive review and not require a formal request for additional information (Additional Information letter).

If the issues and deficiencies cannot be addressed through interactive review, an Additional Information letter will be sent to the requester. If an Additional Information letter is sent, then the De Novo request will be placed on hold. The requester has 180 calendar days from the date of the Additional Information letter to submit a complete response to each item in the Additional Information letter.

Note: The response must be received by the DCC within 180 calendar days of the date of the Additional Information letter. No extensions beyond 180 days will be granted. If the FDA does not receive a complete response to all deficiencies in the Additional Information letter within 180 days of the date of the Additional Information letter, the request will be considered withdrawn and deleted from the FDA's review system. If the De Novo request is deleted, the De Novo requester will need to submit a new request to pursue the FDA's marketing authorization for that device.

The requester must submit their response to an Additional Information letter in electronic format (eCopy), to the DCC of the appropriate Center. The response should:

  • include the requester's name;
  • identify the De Novo number;
  • identify the submission as a response to the Additional Information letter;
  • identify the date of the FDA's request for additional information; and
  • provide the requested information in an organized manner.

The final step is the De Novo request decision. Under MDUFA IV, the FDA's goal is to make a decision about a De Novo request in 150 review days. Review days are calculated as the number of calendar days between the date the De Novo request was received by the FDA and the date of the FDA's decision, excluding the days a request was on hold for an Additional Information request.

For further information on the review process, please reference the following guidance documents:

What Are the FDA Final Actions on a De Novo Request?

After review of the De Novo request, the FDA will make a final decision, either to grant or decline. FDA will also consider the De Novo request to be withdrawn in certain situations (see below).

Grant (21 CFR 860.260)

If the data and information provided to the FDA demonstrate that general controls or general and special controls are adequate to provide reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness, and the probable benefits of the device outweigh the probable risks, then the FDA intends to grant the De Novo request and establish a new classification regulation for the new device type.

If the FDA grants a De Novo request:

  • The new device is authorized to be marketed and must be in compliance with applicable regulatory controls;
  • A new classification regulation for the device type is established;
  • The new device may now serve as a predicate device for 510(k) submissions of future devices of the same type, when applicable;
  • The FDA publishes in the Federal Register a notice that announces the new classification regulation and, for class II devices, the new special controls;
  • The FDA posts on its website a copy of the granting order notifying the requester we have granted marketing authorization; and
  • The FDA generates and publicly discloses a decision summary.

The FDA has published decision summary documents for devices classified through the De Novo process, beginning in 2010. The De Novo decision summary is intended to present an objective and balanced summary of the scientific evidence that served as the basis for the FDA's decision to grant a De Novo request. The De Novo decision summary also serves as a resource regarding the types of information necessary to support substantial equivalence for device manufacturers that may wish to use the device as a predicate.

This information is publicly available in the De Novo Classification Requests database and also published on the CDRH Transparency website Evaluation of Automatic Class III Designation (De Novo) Summaries or on CBER Approved Products website Evaluation of Automatic Class III Designation (De Novo) Summaries (CBER).

Decline (21 CFR 860.260)

Generally, the FDA will decline a De Novo request if:

  • General controls or general and special controls are insufficient to provide reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness of the device; or
  • The data provided in the De Novo request are insufficient to determine whether general controls or general and special controls can provide a reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness of the device; or
  • The probable benefits of the device do not outweigh the probable risks.

If the De Novo request is declined, the device remains in class III and the requester may not legally market the device. The FDA will issue a written order to the requester identifying the reasons, which can include lack of performance data that warrant declining the De Novo request. The requester generally should either submit an application for premarket approval under section 515 of the FD&C Act or collect additional information to address the issues and submit a new De Novo request that includes the additional information. Additionally, refer to the final rule and the FDA's guidance document "FDA and Industry Actions on De Novo Classification Requests: Effect on FDA Review Clock and Goals - Guidance for Industry and Food and Drug Administration Staff" for more information on the FDA's decisions on the De Novo Request.

Withdrawal of a De Novo request (21 CFR 860.250)

The FDA will consider a De Novo classification request to be withdrawn if:

  • the requester submits a written notice to the FDA that the requester is withdrawing the De Novo request;
  • the requester fails to provide a complete response to a request for additional information (21 CFR 860.240), or deficiencies identified by the FDA (21 CFR 860.230) are not addressed within 180 days after the date the FDA issues such request; or
  • the requester does not permit an authorized FDA employee an opportunity to inspect the facilities (21 CFR 860.240), at a reasonable time and in a reasonable manner, and to have access to copy and verify all records pertinent to the De Novo request.

If the FDA considers a De Novo request to be withdrawn, the FDA notifies the requester with reference to the De Novo request number and the date the FDA considered the De Novo request withdrawn. These orders are not publicly posted on FDA's website.

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