Eight Class III Categories that Must Obtain Clinical Approval

As innovation devices and first-of-kind products flood into China market, NMPA seeks to strengthen the clinical-trial approval requirements for certain devices. NMPA published the Catalog of Class III Medical Devices Requiring Clinical Trial Approval on December 23, listing these eight categories:

1. Implantable cardiac pacemaker, implantable cardiac defibrillator with new design or new indication
2. Implantable blood pump with new design or new indication
3. Implantable drug infusion pump with new design or new indication
4. Non-active implantable medical devices in orthopedic and dental applications which are not yet available on China or overseas market
5. Absorbable long bone internal fixation products which are not yet available on China or overseas market
6. Nano orthopedic implant which are not yet available on China or overseas market
7. Combination device / bioactive factor / cell orthopedic implant which are not yet available on China or overseas market
8. Newly-designed orthopedic or dental implants which are not yet available on China or overseas market

On the positive side for manufacturers, overseas clinical data is applicable for the eight categories of devices, according to the Guideline for Acceptance of Overseas Clinical Trial Data of Medical Devices issued on January 11, 2018.