ACRO Comments on NEJM Article on Globalization of Clinical Research
WASHINGTON,
The article by
Further, the article states "Investigators in developing countries would benefit from rigorous training in the design, conduct, and ethical oversight of trials, which would allow them to engage more fully in multinational clinical research at a leadership level." ACRO members invest millions of dollars annually to recruit and train high-quality investigators in more than 60 countries. A well-trained, global investigator network is in the best interest of all participants in the drug development process.
However, the globalization of the clinical trials enterprise is a complex endeavor involving many factors. Unfortunately, the authors' ignored one of the primary drivers behind the globalization of clinical research: the limited participation rate in clinical trials in
The article cites "the increasingly bureaucratic and expensive regulatory environment in many wealthy countries" as another force that is moving clinical trials to developing countries. Again, ACRO looks forward to working with sponsors, academic researchers and other participants in the drug development process to improve the environment for clinical research while maintaining an emphasis on participant safety. Among other collaborations, ACRO is an active participant in the Clinical Trials Transformation Initiative (CTTI), a joint project of the Food & Drug Administration and
About ACRO
The Association of Clinical Research Organizations (ACRO) is the professional organization of companies whose focus is clinical research. The association provides an active voice for the CRO industry, which provides specialized services that are integral to the development of drugs, biologics and medical devices. ACRO helps its members improve the quality, efficiency and safety of biomedical research. ACRO member companies employ more than 70,000 professionals worldwide. For more information, please visit www.acrohealth.org.