Speedy, well-run trials giving birth to break through novel therapies is what we all want. Clinical trials are thus the most crucial collaboration between patients with pharma. When Birgit was asked to participate in a clinical trial for an oral MS treatment, she was quiet positive at first. The therapy sounded promising, the side effects manageable and the objective to further scientific advancement was appealing to her.
Unfortunately, this enthusiasm was quickly replaced with doubts. Somehow the information on potential side effects she received from her doctor did not match what other patient were saying online. Somehow she felt she did not completely understand the informed consent and clinical protocol she was asked to sign…and that no one really cared to sit down and sincerely address her doubts. Finally, the burden of participation in terms of costs and time combined with her growing doubts led her to pull out and not participate in the trial.
Birgit’s testimony in the video below is a typical example of the new epatient decision process. Pharma now needs to convince patients of the benefits of their clinical trial, address their doubts as well as meet their expectations for transparency and support. It indicates a crucial shift in how clinical trials need to be run and communicated in the future.
One Comment on "MS epatient meets German clinical trial"
This is just further proof of how the game is changing. If pharma wants to improve clinical trial participation, the communication between pharma and research site and ultimately trial participant must improve.