Writing & StyleStyle guide

Investigational Product Accountability Section

ICH E6(R3) treats investigational-product accountability as an operational responsibility distinct from simply describing the intervention. Controls should support product integrity, protocol use, participant safety, and traceable disposition.

Quick answer

An Investigational Product Accountability section explains how trial product receipt, storage, dispensing/use, return, reconciliation, and final disposition will be controlled and documented.

Key details

Core IssueICH E6(R3) assigns investigational-product management and accountability responsibilities covering receipt, storage, use, dispensing or administration, return, retrieval, and final disposition, with documentation appropriate to applicable requirements.
Registerscholarly, professional, or research/report writing

Important caveats

Scope Boundary

Product-accountability details depend on product type, route, trial design, local regulation, direct-to-participant supply, and sponsor arrangements; do not copy a drug-trial workflow into studies where it does not apply.

Further guidance

Content

Describe responsible roles and the processes for receipt, storage conditions, dispensing or administration, reconciliation, returns/retrieval, unused product, and documentation as applicable.

Purpose

Show how investigational product will remain controlled and traceable from receipt through final disposition.

Sources and evidence

Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.

  1. E6(R3) Good Clinical Practice Guidance for Industry — September 2025 (opens in a new tab)U.S. Food and Drug Administration · Current ICH E6(R3) GCP guidance on investigator oversight, training/delegation, participant withdrawal, investigational-product accountability, site close-out, essential records, and insurance/indemnification

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