FDA Issues Biomarker Qualification Guidance

On May 16, 2016, FDA released guidance regarding the use of histopathology to support biomarker qualification. Intended to assist submitters that conduct nonclinical studies, the guidance addresses issues to be considered when generating histopathology data in nonclinical biomarker qualification studies. The guidance also outlines recommended scientific standards for biomarker characterization and qualification. According to FDA, “Scientifically rigorous evaluation of biomarker performance in relation to histopathologic changes is essential in these studies because they may provide direct evidence to support nonclinical biomarker qualification or supportive translational data to aid in the development and qualification of clinical biomarkers for a proposed context of use.”

Included in the guidance is a methodology for detection of the biomarker. FDA states that the detection system should be well characterized. “For example, for a biochemical biomarker, the assay used to measure the biomarker should have scientifically rigorous analytical sensitivity and analytical specificity … the biomarker assay should reliably and reproducibly detect changes (increase or decrease) or absence of changes in biomarker levels.” FDA also addresses the biological performance of a biomarker, including sensitivity and temporal correlation, specificity, reversibility, and alternative testing models.

Specific aspects of histopathologic methods discussed in the guidance include general planning for confirmatory studies, slide examination procedures, timing of sample collection, controls, fixation, number of sections and sampling location, staining, and special methodology. Other considerations include digital pathology and slide sharing, lexicons, filtering, and other factors.

Source: FDA