Clinical Trials Struggling to Attract Participants

In a recent study, 94 percent of Americans said they recognize clinical trials are important for the development of new medical treatments. However, recent data shows that despite the importance of clinical trials many patients do not participate or are unaware of ongoing clinical trials.

The growth of biotechnology companies fueled by breakthroughs in decoding the human genome and new drug-development technology has created a growing number of clinical trials. With participation rates unchanged over the last two decades, many of these trials face patient shortages that result in unnecessary delays.

Center Watch, a company that provides listing services for clinical trials, estimates that more than 80 percent of new drug candidates experience trial delays of up to 6 months because they simply cannot find enough patients to enroll. Furthermore, some companies estimate that up to 25 percent of patients who enroll in clinical trials drop out after the trial has begun.

The effects of low clinical trial participation effect cancer treatment studies the most. Only 5 percent of cancer patients participate in clinical trials according to the National Cancer Institute. The NCI estimates that if that number doubled to 10 percent, many clinical trials could be completed in one year instead of the current three to five year trial period.

The demand for clinical trial patients can hurt small biotech companies because they lack the funds and resources needed to promote their trial. In worst case scenarios, a potentially curative compound might not make it to patients.

Many observers attribute low participation rates to stigmas surrounding clinical trials. Often patients brand clinical trials as risky and feel they might have a lower chance of success compared to conventional treatments. The FDA estimates that on average four of the 2.3 million Americans, who participate in clinical trials every year, die from drug related complications. Yet clinical trials deaths tend to gain media attention which makes them seem unsafe in the minds of patients.

Some companies blame low participation rates on increased medical burdens faced by physicians. Doctors are fitting more and more patients into their daily schedule and as a result, less of their time is spent learning about new clinical studies they can share with their patients.

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