Skip to content
Clinical Research Made Simple

Clinical Research Made Simple

Trusted Resource for Clinical Trials, Protocols & Progress

  • Home
  • Audit Findings
    • General Audit Findings in Clinical Trials
    • Investigator Site-Level Audit Findings
    • Sponsor & CRO-Level Audit Findings
    • Trial Master File (TMF) & eTMF Audit Findings
    • Informed Consent Audit Findings
    • Safety Reporting Audit Findings
    • Data Integrity & EDC Audit Findings
    • GCP Training & Compliance Audit Findings
    • Clinical Trial Supply & IMP Audit Findings
    • Ethics Committee / IRB Audit Findings
    • CAPA & Inspection Readiness Audit Findings
    • Case Studies & Trends in Audit Findings
  • Audits, CAPA & Deviations
    • CRO Audit Oversight
    • CAPA Management in CROs
    • Deviation Handling in CROs
    • Inspection Readiness for CROs
    • Data Integrity & Systems Oversight
    • Training & Quality Culture in CROs
  • SOPs for GCP
    • Global SOPs (Applicable to all Agencies)
    • SOP for IDE/Device
    • FDA — Unique SOPs (United States)
    • EMA — Unique SOPs (European Union)
    • CDSCO/DCGI – Unique SOPs (India)
    • WHO – Unique SOPs
    • ICH – Unique SOPs
    • MHRA — Unique SOPs (United Kingdom)
    • Health Canada — Unique SOPs (Canada)
    • PMDA — Unique SOPs
    • TGA — Unique SOPs
    • NMPA — Unique SOPs
    • ANVISA — Unique SOPs
    • Swiss Medic — Unique SOPs
    • Medsafe/HDEC — Unique SOPs (New Zealand)
  • US Regulatory Submissions
  • Toggle search form

SOP for EudraVigilance SUSAR/ICSR Submissions and Follow-Ups

Posted on October 16, 2025 digi By digi

SOP for EudraVigilance SUSAR/ICSR Submissions and Follow-Ups

{
“@context”: “https://schema.org”,
“@type”: “Article”,
“mainEntityOfPage”: {
“@type”: “WebPage”,
“@id”: “https://www.clinicalstudies.in/sop-for-eudravigilance-susar-icsr-submissions-and-follow-ups”
},
“headline”: “SOP for EudraVigilance SUSAR/ICSR Submissions and Follow-Ups”,
“description”: “This SOP outlines the process for submitting and managing SUSARs (Suspected Unexpected Serious Adverse Reactions) and ICSRs (Individual Case Safety Reports) through EudraVigilance. It ensures compliance with EMA pharmacovigilance regulations, timelines, and follow-up obligations.”,
“author”: {
“@type”: “Organization”,
“name”: “ClinicalStudies.in”
},
“publisher”: {
“@type”: “Organization”,
“name”: “ClinicalStudies.in”,
“logo”: {
“@type”: “ImageObject”,
“url”: “https://www.clinicalstudies.in/logo.png”
}
},
“datePublished”: “2025-08-26”,
“dateModified”: “2025-08-26”
}

Published on 25/12/2025

Standard Operating Procedure for EudraVigilance SUSAR/ICSR Submissions and Follow-Ups

SOP No. CR/OPS/137/2025
Supersedes NA
Page No. 1 of 78
Issue Date 26/08/2025
Effective Date 01/09/2025
Review Date 01/09/2026

Table of Contents

Toggle
  • Purpose
  • Scope
  • Responsibilities
  • Accountability
  • Procedure
  • Abbreviations
  • Documents
  • References
  • Approval Section
  • Annexures
  • Revision History

Purpose

The purpose of this SOP is to establish standardized procedures for reporting and managing Suspected Unexpected Serious Adverse Reactions (SUSARs) and Individual Case Safety Reports (ICSRs) through

the European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) EudraVigilance system. This ensures compliance with EU Clinical Trials Regulation (CTR), Good Pharmacovigilance Practices (GVP), and applicable EMA guidance.

Scope

This SOP applies to sponsors, investigators, CROs, pharmacovigilance staff, and regulatory affairs personnel involved in EU clinical trials requiring SUSAR/ICSR submissions. It covers electronic submissions, timelines, MedDRA coding, follow-ups, case reconciliation, and inspection readiness.

See also  SOP for ClinO and ClinO-MD Compliance in Submissions and Conduct

Responsibilities

  • Sponsor: Ensures timely SUSAR and ICSR submissions via EudraVigilance and overall compliance with EMA regulations.
  • Investigator: Reports SAEs to sponsor promptly and provides follow-up data for SUSAR assessment.
  • CRO: Assists in preparation, validation, and electronic submission of safety reports.
  • Pharmacovigilance Team: Manages safety database, ensures MedDRA coding accuracy, and prepares narratives.
  • Regulatory Affairs: Oversees submission compliance and communicates with EMA/NCAs.
  • QA: Audits safety reporting workflows and ensures inspection readiness.

Accountability

The Sponsor’s Pharmacovigilance Lead is accountable for compliance with EMA SUSAR/ICSR reporting requirements. Investigators are accountable for site-level SAE reporting accuracy.

Procedure

1. SAE Identification
1.1 Investigators report SAEs to sponsor within 24 hours.
1.2 Sponsor evaluates for SUSAR criteria.
1.3 Record in SAE/SUSAR Log (Annexure-1).

2. Case Assessment
2.1 Assess seriousness, causality, and expectedness against reference safety information (RSI).
2.2 Document in SUSAR Assessment Log (Annexure-2).

3. EudraVigilance Submission
3.1 Submit fatal/life-threatening SUSARs within 7 days.
3.2 Submit other SUSARs within 15 days.
3.3 Submit all ICSRs electronically via EudraVigilance.
3.4 Record in EudraVigilance Submission Log (Annexure-3).

4. MedDRA Coding
4.1 Use latest MedDRA version for coding adverse events.
4.2 Record coding validation in MedDRA Coding Log (Annexure-4).

5. Follow-Up Reporting
5.1 Submit follow-up ICSRs with additional information within 15 days.
5.2 Document in Follow-Up Log (Annexure-5).

See also  SOP for Vulnerable Populations and Witness Consent

6. Case Reconciliation
6.1 Perform quarterly reconciliation of EudraVigilance submissions with internal safety database.
6.2 Document in Reconciliation Log (Annexure-6).

7. Inspection Readiness
7.1 Maintain inspection-ready SUSAR/ICSR records.
7.2 Conduct mock inspections documented in Inspection Readiness Log (Annexure-7).

Abbreviations

  • SOP: Standard Operating Procedure
  • SUSAR: Suspected Unexpected Serious Adverse Reaction
  • ICSR: Individual Case Safety Report
  • EMA: European Medicines Agency
  • CTR: Clinical Trials Regulation
  • CRO: Contract Research Organization
  • QA: Quality Assurance
  • MedDRA: Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities
  • RSI: Reference Safety Information

Documents

  1. SAE/SUSAR Log (Annexure-1)
  2. SUSAR Assessment Log (Annexure-2)
  3. EudraVigilance Submission Log (Annexure-3)
  4. MedDRA Coding Log (Annexure-4)
  5. Follow-Up Log (Annexure-5)
  6. Reconciliation Log (Annexure-6)
  7. Inspection Readiness Log (Annexure-7)

References

  • EMA – EudraVigilance
  • EU Clinical Trials Regulation (EU CTR 536/2014)
  • ICH E2A/E2F Guidelines

Version: 1.0

Approval Section

Prepared By Ravi Kumar, Pharmacovigilance Specialist
Checked By Sunita Reddy, QA Officer
Approved By Dr. Anil Sharma, Head Clinical Operations

Annexures

Annexure-1: SAE/SUSAR Log

Date Subject ID Event Investigator Status
01/09/2025 E101 Severe Hepatic Failure PI Reported

Annexure-2: SUSAR Assessment Log

Date Event Assessment Reviewed By Status
02/09/2025 Severe Hepatic Failure Related and Unexpected Safety Officer Confirmed

Annexure-3: EudraVigilance Submission Log

Date Case ID Submitted To EMA Submitted By Status
03/09/2025 EV-2025-01 Yes Reg Affairs Accepted

Annexure-4: MedDRA Coding Log

Date Case ID Term Coded By Status
03/09/2025 EV-2025-01 Hepatic Failure PV Specialist Validated
See also  SOP for Public Trial Registration and Results Posting (ClinicalTrials.gov/EU/WHO)

Annexure-5: Follow-Up Log

Date Case ID Follow-Up Information Submitted To Status
05/09/2025 EV-2025-01 Additional Labs EMA Filed

Annexure-6: Reconciliation Log

Date Database Reconciliation Done By Status
15/09/2025 Internal vs EudraVigilance QA Officer Matched

Annexure-7: Inspection Readiness Log

Date Agency Simulation Performed By Status
20/09/2025 EMA Mock Inspection QA Team Completed

Revision History

Revision Date Revision No. Revision Details Reason for Revision Approved By
26/08/2025 00 Initial version New SOP creation Head Clinical Operations

For more SOPs visit: Pharma SOP

EMA — Unique SOPs (European Union), SOP for GCP Tags:EMA pharmacovigilance SOP, EudraVigilance SOP, ICSR submission SOP, SOP for CRO oversight EU safety reporting, SOP for data quality EudraVigilance submissions, SOP for electronic submission EudraVigilance, SOP for EMA electronic gateway, SOP for EU clinical trial safety reporting, SOP for follow-up ICSR submissions, SOP for inspection readiness pharmacovigilance, SOP for investigator responsibilities SUSAR, SOP for MedDRA coding SUSARs, SOP for narrative SUSAR reporting, SOP for regulatory compliance SUSAR reporting, SOP for SAE reporting EU CTR, SOP for safety case reconciliation EMA, SOP for sponsor responsibilities EMA safety reporting, SOP for SUSAR archiving EU trials -->, SOP for SUSAR timelines EMA, SUSAR reporting SOP

Post navigation

Previous Post: Patient Informed Consent Challenges in Rural China
Next Post: Case Studies on Query Management During Reconciliation Cycles

Quick Guide – 1

  • Clinical Trial Phases (7)
    • Preclinical Studies (25)
    • Phase 0 (Microdosing Studies) (6)
    • Phase 1 (Safety and Dosage) (66)
    • Phase 2 (Efficacy and Side Effects) (54)
    • Phase 3 (Confirmation and Monitoring) (70)
    • Phase 4 (Post-Marketing Surveillance) (79)
  • Regulatory Guidelines (71)
    • U.S. FDA Regulations (14)
    • CDSCO (India) Guidelines (11)
    • EMA (European Medicines Agency) Guidelines (17)
    • PMDA (Japan) Guidelines (1)
    • MHRA (UK) Guidelines (1)
    • TGA (Australia) Guidelines (1)
    • Health Canada Guidelines (1)
    • WHO Guidelines (1)
    • ICH Guidelines (12)
    • ASEAN Guidelines (11)
  • Country-Specific Clinical Trials (254)
    • Clinical Trials in USA (51)
    • Clinical Trials in China (49)
    • Clinical Trials in EU (51)
    • Clinical Trials in India (51)
    • Clinical Trials in UK (51)
    • Clinical Trials in Canada (1)
  • Clinical Trial Design and Protocol Development (106)
    • Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) (11)
    • Adaptive Trial Designs (10)
    • Crossover Trials (10)
    • Parallel Group Designs (11)
    • Factorial Designs (11)
    • Cluster Randomized Trials (11)
    • Single-Arm Trials (10)
    • Open-Label Studies (11)
    • Blinded Studies (Single, Double, Triple) (11)
    • Non-Inferiority and Equivalence Trials (8)
    • Randomization Techniques in Crossover Trials (1)
  • Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and Compliance (78)
    • GCP Training Programs (11)
    • ICH-GCP Compliance (11)
    • GCP Violations and Audit Responses (11)
    • Monitoring Plans (11)
    • Investigator Responsibilities (11)
    • Sponsor Responsibilities (11)
    • Ethics Committee Roles (11)
  • Clinical Research Operations (44)
    • Study Start-Up Activities (9)
    • Site Selection and Initiation (10)
    • Patient Enrollment Strategies (13)
    • Data Collection and Management (10)
    • Monitoring and Auditing (1)
    • Study Close-Out Procedures (0)
  • Site Management and Monitoring (72)
    • Site Feasibility Assessments (20)
    • Site Initiation Visits (10)
    • Routine Monitoring Visits (10)
    • Source Data Verification (12)
    • Site Close-Out Visits (10)
    • Site Performance Metrics (10)
  • Contract Research Organizations (CROs) (55)
    • Full-Service CROs (11)
    • Functional Service Providers (FSPs) (10)
    • Niche/Specialty CROs (11)
    • CRO Selection Criteria (11)
    • CRO Oversight and Management (11)
  • Patient Recruitment and Retention (57)
    • Recruitment Strategies (11)
    • Retention Strategies (11)
    • Patient Engagement Tools (11)
    • Diversity and Inclusion in Trials (11)
    • Use of Social Media for Recruitment (12)
  • Informed Consent and Ethics Committees (54)
    • Informed Consent Process (11)
    • Ethics Committee Submissions (10)
    • Ethical Considerations in Vulnerable Populations (11)
    • Consent in Emergency Research (10)
    • Re-Consent Procedures (11)
  • Decentralized Clinical Trials (DCTs) (55)
    • Remote Patient Monitoring (10)
    • Telemedicine in Trials (11)
    • Home Health Visits (11)
    • Direct-to-Patient Drug Delivery (11)
    • Digital Consent Platforms (11)
  • Clinical Trial Supply and Logistics (55)
    • Investigational Product Management (11)
    • Cold Chain Logistics (10)
    • Supply Chain Risk Management (11)
    • Labeling and Packaging (11)
    • Return and Destruction of Supplies (11)
  • Safety Reporting and Pharmacovigilance (56)
    • Adverse Event Reporting (11)
    • Serious Adverse Event (SAE) Management (11)
    • Safety Signal Detection (11)
    • Risk Management Plans (11)
    • Periodic Safety Update Reports (PSURs) (11)
  • Clinical Data Management (57)
    • Case Report Form (CRF) Design (11)
    • Data Entry and Validation (11)
    • Query Management (11)
    • Database Lock Procedures (11)
    • Data Archiving (12)
  • Biostatistics in Clinical Research (57)
    • Statistical Analysis Plans (11)
    • Sample Size Determination (11)
    • Interim Analysis (11)
    • Survival Analysis (12)
    • Handling Missing Data (11)
  • Real-World Evidence (RWE) and Observational Studies (56)
    • Registry Studies (11)
    • Retrospective Chart Reviews (11)
    • Prospective Cohort Studies (11)
    • Case-Control Studies (11)
    • Use of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) (11)
  • Medical Writing and Study Documentation (58)
    • Protocol Writing (11)
    • Investigator Brochures (11)
    • Clinical Study Reports (CSRs) (11)
    • Manuscript Preparation (11)
    • Regulatory Submission Documents (13)
  • Trial Master File (TMF) Management (57)
    • TMF Structure and Contents (10)
    • Electronic TMF Systems (7)
    • TMF Quality Control (12)
    • Inspection Readiness (12)
    • Archiving Requirements (11)
  • Protocol Amendments and Version Control (45)
    • Amendment Classification (11)
    • Regulatory Submissions of Amendments (11)
    • Communication of Changes to Sites (11)
    • Version Control Systems (11)
  • Data Integrity and ALCOA+ Principles (46)
    • Attributable, Legible, Contemporaneous, Original, Accurate (ALCOA) (12)
    • Complete, Consistent, Enduring, and Available (ALCOA+) (10)
    • Data Governance Policies (12)
    • Audit Trails (11)
  • Investigator and Site Training (44)
    • Investigator Meetings (11)
    • Site Staff Training Programs (11)
    • Training Documentation (11)
    • Continuing Education Requirements (10)
  • Budgeting and Financial Management (40)
    • Budget Development (10)
    • Site Payment Management (10)
    • Financial Forecasting (10)
    • Cost Tracking and Reporting (10)
  • AI, Big Data, and Technology in Clinical Trials (41)
    • AI in Patient Recruitment (10)
    • Machine Learning for Data Analysis (10)
    • Blockchain for Data Security (10)
    • Wearable Devices and Sensors (11)
  • Career in Clinical Research (52)
    • Clinical Research Coordinator (CRC) Roles (11)
    • Clinical Research Associate (CRA) Roles (10)
    • Data Manager Careers (10)
    • Biostatistician Roles (10)
    • Regulatory Affairs Careers (11)
  • Clinical Trial Registries and Result Disclosure (40)
    • ClinicalTrials.gov Registration (9)
    • EudraCT Registration (10)
    • Results Posting Requirements (10)
    • Transparency Initiatives (11)

Quick Guide – 2

  • Clinical Trial Operations & Data Integrity (31)
    • TMF & eTMF (10)
    • Study Operations & Enrollment (10)
    • Biostats, CDISC & Traceability (11)
  • Clinical Trial Operations & Compliance (54)
    • Clinical Trial Logistics (30)
    • TMF / eTMF Management (6)
    • Clinical Trial Phases & Design (6)
    • Regulatory Submissions (CTD/eCTD) (6)
    • Vendor Oversight & CRO Compliance (6)
  • Quality Assurance and Audit Management (40)
    • Internal Audits (10)
    • External Audits (10)
    • Audit Preparation (10)
    • Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPA) (10)
  • Risk-Based Monitoring (RBM) (40)
    • Risk Assessment Tools (10)
    • Centralized Monitoring Techniques (10)
    • Key Risk Indicators (KRIs) (10)
    • Key Risk Indicators (KRIs) (10)
  • Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) (39)
    • SOP Development (9)
    • SOP Training (10)
    • SOP Compliance Monitoring (10)
    • SOP Revision Processes (10)
  • Electronic Data Capture (EDC) and eCRFs (40)
    • EDC System Selection (10)
    • eCRF Design (10)
    • Data Validation Rules (10)
    • User Access Management (10)
  • Wearables and Digital Endpoints (35)
    • Integration of Wearable Devices (10)
    • Digital Biomarkers (9)
    • Data Collection and Analysis (7)
    • Regulatory Considerations (9)
  • Blockchain and Data Security in Trials (39)
    • Blockchain Applications in Clinical Research (10)
    • Data Encryption Methods (9)
    • Access Control Mechanisms (11)
    • Compliance with Data Protection Regulations (9)
  • Biomarkers and Companion Diagnostics (39)
    • Biomarker Identification (10)
    • Validation Processes (10)
    • Companion Diagnostic Development (9)
    • Regulatory Approval Pathways (10)
  • Pediatric and Geriatric Clinical Trials (55)
    • Ethical Considerations (11)
    • Age-Specific Protocol Design (22)
    • Dosing and Safety Assessments (11)
    • Recruitment Strategies (11)
  • Oncology Clinical Trials (54)
    • Phase-Specific Oncology Trials (10)
    • Immunotherapy Studies (14)
    • Biomarker-Driven Trials (10)
    • Basket and Umbrella Trials (8)
    • Cancer Vaccines (12)
  • Vaccine Clinical Trials (40)
    • Phase I–IV Vaccine Trials (10)
    • Immunogenicity Assessments (10)
    • Cold Chain Requirements (10)
    • Post-Marketing Surveillance (10)
  • Rare and Orphan Disease Trials (186)
    • Patient Recruitment Challenges (31)
    • Regulatory Incentives (10)
    • Adaptive Trial Designs (10)
    • Natural History Studies (10)
    • Regulatory Frameworks (22)
    • Trial Design & Methodology (22)
    • Operational Challenges (21)
    • Ethics & Patient Engagement (20)
    • Data & Technology (20)
    • Case Studies & Breakthroughs (20)
  • Bioavailability and Bioequivalence Studies (BA/BE) (41)
    • Study Design Considerations (11)
    • Analytical Method Validation (10)
    • Statistical Analysis Requirements (10)
    • Regulatory Submission (10)
  • Regulatory Submissions and Approvals (73)
    • IND (Investigational New Drug) Submissions (10)
    • CTA (Clinical Trial Application) (10)
    • NDA/BLA/MAA Filings (10)
    • ANDA for Generics (10)
    • eCTD Submission Process (2)
    • Pre-Submission Meetings (FDA Type A/B/C) (10)
    • Regulatory Query Response Handling (10)
    • Post-Approval Commitments (11)
  • Clinical Trial Transparency and Ethics (60)
    • Trial Disclosure Obligations (10)
    • Result Publication Requirements (10)
    • Ethical Review Standards (10)
    • Open Access Data Sharing (10)
    • Informed Consent Disclosure (10)
    • Ethical Dilemmas in Global Research (10)
  • Protocol Deviation and CAPA Management (50)
    • Major vs Minor Deviations (10)
    • Root Cause Analysis (9)
    • CAPA Documentation (9)
    • Preventive Action Planning (1)
    • Monitoring and Training Based on Deviations (10)
    • Deviation Logs and Tracking Tools (11)
  • Audit Trails and Inspection Readiness (59)
    • TMF and eTMF Audit Trails (10)
    • Audit Trail Reviews in EDC (10)
    • Inspection Preparation Checklists (10)
    • Regulatory Inspection Types (Routine, For-Cause) (10)
    • Responding to Audit Observations (9)
    • Mock Inspections and Readiness Drills (10)
  • Study Feasibility and Site Selection (68)
    • Feasibility Questionnaire Design (10)
    • Site Capability Assessment (11)
    • Historical Performance Review (17)
    • Geographic and Demographic Considerations (10)
    • PI (Principal Investigator) Experience Evaluation (10)
    • Site Activation Planning (10)
  • Outsourcing and Vendor Management (65)
    • Vendor Qualification Process (12)
    • Due Diligence and Risk Assessment (11)
    • Vendor Contract Management (12)
    • KPIs for Vendor Performance (10)
    • Vendor Oversight and Audits (10)
    • Communication and Escalation Plans (10)
  • Remote Monitoring and Virtual Visits (64)
    • Centralized Monitoring Techniques (12)
    • Source Data Review Remotely (12)
    • Virtual Site Visits Protocols (11)
    • eConsent and Remote Data Collection (10)
    • Hybrid Monitoring Models (10)
    • Remote Site Training (9)
  • Laboratory and Sample Management (77)
    • Sample Collection SOPs (10)
    • Sample Labeling and Transport (10)
    • Chain of Custody Documentation (11)
    • Bioanalytical Testing and Storage (15)
    • Central vs Local Labs (11)
    • Laboratory Data Reconciliation (20)
  • Adverse Event Reporting and Management (63)
    • AE vs SAE Differentiation (10)
    • Expedited Reporting Timelines (11)
    • MedDRA Coding of Events (11)
    • AE Data Collection in eCRFs (11)
    • Causality and Severity Assessments (10)
    • Regulatory Reporting Requirements (CIOMS, SUSARs) (10)
  • Interim Analysis and Trial Termination (60)
    • Data Monitoring Committees (DMC) (10)
    • Pre-Specified Stopping Rules (10)
    • Statistical Thresholds for Early Stopping (10)
    • Adaptive Modifications Based on Interim Data (10)
    • Unblinding Protocols (10)
    • Reporting of Early Termination to Regulators (10)

Recent Posts

  • Test
  • Comprehensive Guide to Dental Health Care with Braces
  • Understanding Dental Health Care: Managing Implants Cost Effectively
  • Invisalign Alternatives: Practical Dental Health Care Solutions
  • Practical Guide to Dental Health Care: Managing Braces Effectively

Copyright © 2026 Clinical Research Made Simple.

Powered by PressBook WordPress theme