May 2026
Australia's ANZCTR has outlined compliance options for a new NHMRC and MRFF Open Science Policy. The US NLM has published a retirement timeline for the Classic PRS, with mandatory use of the Modernized PRS for new records from July 2026. India's CDSCO has issued an advisory directing parallel submission of clinical trial protocols to CDSCO and Ethics Committees simultaneously.
Australia ANZCTR Guidance on NHMRC and MRFF Open Science Policy (May-2026)
The Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) has outlined options for trial investigators to comply with a new joint Open Science Policy published by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF). The policy requires funded trials to be registered in the ANZCTR or an equivalent WHO-accredited registry before first participant recruitment, and results to be shared publicly within 12 months of primary study completion.
United States ClinicalTrials.gov Classic PRS Phase-Out Timeline Established (13-May-2026)
The National Library of Medicine (NLM) has published a retirement timeline for the Classic Protocol Registration and Results System (PRS). Starting July 2026, new records must be created in the Modernized PRS; starting Fall 2026, all protocol submissions must be completed there. The Classic PRS Results Section modules and XML upload feature are targeted for phase-out in 2027, subject to adoption thresholds.
India CDSCO Parallel Submission Advisory Issued (11-May-2026)
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) has issued an advisory (ETHICS-11011/5/2026-e-office) directing applicants to submit clinical trial protocols and related documents simultaneously to CDSCO and the relevant Ethics Committee registered under the New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019 (NDCTR, 2019). Ethics Committees are advised to independently review and process submitted protocols without awaiting prior approval from the Central Licensing Authority (CLA).
