Thursday, February 19, 2009

Outsourcing of Drug Trials

The most recent issue of the NEJM, here discusses the globalization of clinical trials.

Concerns noted in the article include:

Wide disparities in education, economic and social standing, and health care systems may jeopardize the rights of research participants;

There may be a relative lack of understanding of both the investigational nature of therapeutic products and the use of placebo groups; and

In some places, financial compensation for research participation may exceed participants' annual wages, and participation in a clinical trial may provide the only access to care for persons with the condition under study.

Worth a read.