Successful conference on clinical trials

Renowned international experts spoke at the conference on four priority themes:

• Ethics and the globalization of clinical trials
• Data transparency and access
• Evidence required before marketing authorization and fast-tracked procedures such as the “adaptive pathways” introduced in the EU
• Alternatives for biomedical research geared towards public health needs

The often inadequate and selective data released on clinical trials was intensely discussed. Full transparency on clinical trials should be “the rule and not the exception,” demanded Patrick Durisch, expressing his hope that the conference would act as a “wake-up call for more stringent regulations of clinical trials”. 

Conference documents

Agenda

Presentations

• Keynote Tom Jefferson, Centre for Evidence Based Medicine
• Keynote Teresa Alves, La Revue Prescrire
• Keynote Ruth Dreifuss, High-Level Panel on Access to Medicines

 Globalisation of clinical trials and ethics 

• Patrick Durisch, Public Eye
• Ayman Sabae, Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights
• Samia Hurst, University of Geneva
• Françoise Jaquet, Swissmedic

 Transparence and access to data

• Tom Jefferson, Centre for Evidence Based Medicine
• Jan Stadler, European Ombudsman
• Ancel.la Santos, HAI
• Ghassan Karam, WHO

 Marketing authorisation & adaptive Pathways

• Hans Georg Eichler, EMA
• Beate Wieseler, IQWiG
• Joerg Schaaber, ISDB BUKO
• Monica Cavagna, BEUC
• Sopie le Pallec, Amalyste

Way forward to a needs-driven biomedical research 

• Silvio Garattini, Mario Negri Institute
• Joel Lexchin, York University CAN
• Katy Athersuch, MSF Access Campaign
• Nathalie Strub, DNDi