Clinical Trials Day: saving lives one phase at a time
Today, May 20th, marks a significant occasion for the medical and clinical research community: it’s Clinical Trials Day. Sponsored by the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP), this event pays tribute to the dedicated scientists and researchers who drive medical progress through clinical trials.1
WHAT ARE CLINICAL TRIALS?
Clinical trials are at the core of modern medical research, representing a crucial phase in the development of new treatments and therapies for a wide range of diseases and clinical conditions. When developing a new treatment, diagnostic strategy, or surgical intervention, it is essential to carefully evaluate its efficacy, safety and tolerability. Clinical trials serve this purpose.2
HOW DO CLINICAL TRIALS WORK?
After the development and testing of a new treatment in laboratories, clinical trials can begin.3 They typically are comprised of four different phases, each involving a growing number of participants, from a handful of healthy individuals to thousands of patients. However, this complex and lengthy process doesn’t guarantee that a candidate drug will reach the market. Indeed, even after several years of clinical trials, less than 10% of the new treatments meet the stringent criteria necessary for marketing authorization.4
Check the infographic to know more.
THE ROLE OF NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL AUTHORITIES
National and international authorities closely monitor the progress of clinical trials, authorizing or suspending them when necessary. Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) manages the International Clinical Trial Registry Platform (ICTRP), designed to offer a vast and easily accessible repository of clinical trial from across the world.
From the beginning of the monitoring in 1999 until 2022, a total of 744.100 clinical research studies have been registered worldwide, of which 577.531 focused on new therapeutic, diagnostic, and surgical treatments. Approximately 82% of these studies centred on non-communicable illnesses, such as oncological diseases, with a total of 89.069 trials, followed by neuropsychiatric diseases with 71.601 studies.5
WHAT ABOUT US?
Angelini Pharma is constantly engaged in clinical research to develop innovative solutions, with a particular focus on two critical areas: Brain Health and Consumer Healthcare. This is why in 2024 we will be sponsoring 23 clinical trials in more than a dozen countries, with the aim of providing increasingly effective and innovative therapeutic solutions that improve people's quality of life.
IN CONCLUSION
Clinical trials are a crucial aspect of medical research, but also of our lives. Thanks to the work of countless dedicated professionals, it is now possible to cure once incurable diseases, save lives and make people all over the world experience greater well-being. This is why we have chosen to celebrate Clinical Trials Day and invite you to do the same.
Bibliography
- www.clinicaltrialsday.org [as of April 2024]
- https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/clinical-trials-and-studies/what-are-clinical-trials-and-studies [as of April 2024]
- FDA. The drug development process. https://www.fda.gov/patients/learn-about-drug-and-device-approvals/drug-development-process [as of April 2024]
- FDA. Step 3: Clinical Research. https://www.fda.gov/patients/drug-development-process/step-3-clinical-research [as of April 2024]
- https://www.who.int/observatories/global-observatory-on-health-research-and-development/monitoring/number-of-clinical-trials-by-year-country-who-region-and-income-group [as of April 2024]