Not good news. And improved treatments will be delayed and patient lives will be lost unless the efficiency and effectiveness of the clinical trials system improves, according to a new report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM), which was commission by the National Cancer Institute to review its Clinical Trials Cooperative Group (CTCG).
At issue are concerns the CTCG program can’t conduct timely, large-scale, innovative trials needed to improve patient care. The average time required to design, approve and activate a trial is two years, and only about half of all trials undertaken are completed. Meanwhile, funding since 2002 had dropped 20 percent, while knowledge about predictive biomarkers and molecular changes has grown.
To remedy the problem, the IOM says the CTCG needs to better respond to emerging scientific knowledge; involve broad cooperation of stakeholders; and leverage evolving technologies to provide high-quality research that can change practices.
Four recommended goals:
- Improving speed and efficiency of the design, launch, and conduct of trials;
- Incorporate innovative science and trial design into cancer trials;
- Improving prioritization, selection, support, and completion of clinical trials;
- Provide incentives to patients and physicians to participate.
http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?re...=12879&page=R1