Cancer Clinical Trials and the Dominance of the Drug Industry
Cancer Research Funding: A Shifting Paradigm
The role of the drug industry in cancer clinical trials has expanded significantly in recent years. This change is characterized by pharmaceutical companies funding a larger share of clinical studies than the federal government. A study reveals that trials sponsored by industry entities enrolled eight times as many patients as those funded by the government between 2018 and 2022.
Impact on Patient Diversity
Researchers from Fred Hutch Cancer Center have pointed out that the lack of government investment often results in a less diverse patient population being studied in industry-sponsored trials compared to their federally funded counterparts.
Call for Increased Federal Investment
Given the growing reliance on industry research, experts are advocating for a reinforcement of federal funding to ensure a broad representation of patients in cancer research and to address the significant gaps identified by the study.
This article was prepared using information from open sources in accordance with the principles of Ethical Policy. The editorial team is not responsible for absolute accuracy, as it relies on data from the sources referenced.