25.—(1) Subject to the following provisions of this regulation, if—
(a)the ethics committee opinion on a proposed amendment to the protocol is not favourable; or
(b)the sponsor has been notified by the licensing authority of any grounds for non-acceptance of a proposed amendment to the protocol,
and it is possible to modify or adapt the proposed amendment in order to meet the concerns of ethics committee or the licensing authority as set out in the opinion or, as the case may be, the grounds for non-acceptance, the sponsor may amend the protocol accordingly.
(2) If a sponsor proposes to amend the protocol in accordance with paragraph (1), the sponsor shall, at least 14 days before the amendment is to be made, give a notice in writing to the licensing authority and the relevant ethics committee.
(3) The licensing authority may, within the period of 14 days from the date of receipt of a notice under paragraph (1), give written notice to the sponsor setting out the licensing authority’s further grounds for not accepting the modified or adapted amendment.
(4) The relevant ethics committee may, within the period of 14 days from the date of receipt of a notice under paragraph (1), give a written notice to the sponsor stating that its opinion of the modified or adapted amendment is unfavourable.
(5) If—
(a)the sponsor receives a written notice under paragraphs (3) or (4), he may not make the amendment; and
(b)if he receives no such notice, he may make the modified or adapted amendment.