Overview of approval procedures for bioadhesives in the United States of America and Canada

Bioadhesives are useful medical devices to help reduce postoperative complications and as adjuncts to sutures and staples in sealing wounds. Biomedical companies have been promoting research and development into new bioadhesives. As for other medical devices, translating promising candidates to market involves the need to pass through several regulatory steps, wherein their safety and effectiveness are evaluated and the proper reimbursements from payors are assessed. The regulatory procedures involve classification based on the risk factors, support studies, submission of applications to relevant authorities, procurement of certification, and finally commercialization, while keeping a track record of the post-market data. The importance of real-world data has been recently realized. The aim of this review is to focus on the translational goals, expectations, and necessities of medical devices focusing on the bioadhesives to be commercialized. It should aid researchers inspired to discover and market new bioadhesives in understanding the need for basic regulatory procedures behind their commercialization for medical usage, most importantly for internal medicine specifically in the United States of America, Canada, and Europe, in part. The key differences in the regulatory aspects among those are highlighted. Regulations keep changing with the introduction of new products and governmental laws. They are updated in this manuscript till March 2021.