Clinical research is research that involves people who volunteer to help us better understand medicine and health. This research involves clinical trials where people volunteer to take investigational drugs or use investigational devices. Investigational drugs are drugs that are so new they have not been approved by the FDA, the same is true for investigational devices. The reason these drugs or devices were developed is to hopefully provide a better product than what is currently available on the market. The results of the clinical trial determine whether or not the investigational drug or device is safe and effective. If the drug or device is safe and effective FDA approval is granted. Without clinical trials there would be NO medical devices, NO drugs, not even over-the-counter medications. All drugs and devices must first be tested and proven to be *safe* and effective before they can be made available to the public. Clinical trials are used to prove the safety and effectiveness.
Why should you volunteer to participate in a Clinical Trial
Too often we hear people say this drug doesn’t work in black and brown people, or in old people or in women. People then want to blame the pharmaceutical companies for not developing medications for all people. The reality is the pharmaceutical companies don’t have the information needed to develop medications that work for everyone if they don’t have the right type of people volunteering to participate in their clinical trials. Currently 75% of clinical trial volunteers are Caucasian, 11% are Hispanic, 8% are African American and only 6% are Asian and of those participants only 30% were elderly. The FDA is now urging pharmaceutical companies to design clinical trials that are more diversified. What is needed is for the demographics of the clinical trial volunteers to reflect the demographics of those persons affected by the disease/condition the investigational drug is for. This means for conditions like diabetes where those most affected are Native Americans, African Americans and Hispanics pharmaceutical companies need to have volunteers who are members of these groups. Pharmaceutical companies cannot meet these expectations without your willingness to volunteer. When you volunteer it not only benefits you, it benefits those in your ethnic community, as well as the generations to come.
The Importance of Clinical Trials
Many people don’t understand why clinical trials are important. Without clinical research/clinical trials what treatments would be available? Watch this video to gain a better understanding of what medical treatment would be WITHOUT clinical research.
MT Pharmacy
Many people don’t understand why clinical trials are important. Without clinical research/clinical trials what treatments would be available? Watch this video to gain a better understanding of what medical treatment would be WITHOUT clinical research.
Healthcare Disparities
Healthcare disparities are prevalent among people of color. What’s needed to bridge the gap are medications/treatments that work effectively for those groups most affected by the condition/disease indicated. It’s time for the patient population of clinical trials to match the demographics of those affected. YOU play an important part in this. By volunteering for clinical trials you are contributing to the development of medications for people now and in the future. Show your WORTH!
Healthcare Disparities
Diversity of clinical trial volunteers is a scientific necessity. In order to know if a medication or device is effective for EVERYONE is to test it on all genders, races and ethnicities. Watch this video to gain more clarity on this topic.
