The UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is launching a six-month pilot program to streamline the approval process for certain clinical trial modifications, marking a significant step toward implementing new regulations that will reshape the country's clinical trials landscape in 2026.
Pilot Program Details
The Route B substantial modification pilot will run from October 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026, offering sponsors automatic approval within 14 days for eligible modifications to approved clinical trial applications. This initiative is part of preparations for comprehensive new clinical trials regulations scheduled to take effect on April 28, 2026.
Under the pilot program, modifications that meet pre-defined criteria under section 11B of the Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 will be eligible for the streamlined process. These modifications, while classified as "substantial," do not introduce significant new safety concerns and are subject to risk-proportionate review rather than full assessment.
The MHRA has indicated that if the pilot program becomes oversubscribed, the agency may implement a staged rollout to maintain its commitment to the 14-day timeline.
Regulatory Framework Transformation
The new regulations, approved by Parliament in April 2025, represent a fundamental shift toward what the MHRA describes as an "agile, innovative, and patient-centred" regulatory framework. The legislation was developed collaboratively between the MHRA and the Health Research Authority (HRA), incorporating stakeholder input through public consultation.
As part of this transition, the existing voluntary notification scheme for Type A trials will close on September 30, 2025. Type A trials involve medicinal products licensed in any EU Member State and relate to the licensed range of indications, dosage, and form. Under the new regulations, both the Type A notification scheme and the "new notification scheme" will be consolidated into a unified "Notifiable Trials" framework.
Risk-Proportionate Approach Expansion
The MHRA is expanding its current risk-proportionate approach to include the review of modifications to approved clinical trial applications. This expansion builds on the agency's existing methodology for assessing clinical trials based on their risk profile rather than applying uniform review processes.
The Route B substantial modification process will become mandatory for all eligible modifications once the new regulations take effect. Draft guidance supporting the new regulations is available on the Clinical Trials Hub, with the section on modifying clinical trials covering the Route B substantial modifications criteria.
Implementation and Participation
Sponsors interested in participating in the pilot can complete a registration form available on the MHRA's pilot guidance page. The agency emphasizes that participation will allow sponsors to familiarize themselves with the eligibility criteria while benefiting from the accelerated 14-day response timeline.
The new regulations will only affect new applicants, with existing submissions continuing under the current regulatory process. This approach ensures continuity for ongoing trials while providing a clear pathway for future applications under the modernized framework.
The pilot represents a collaborative effort involving a wide range of stakeholders who contributed to the development of the draft guidance and provided feedback throughout the regulatory development process.
