EU industry group says public-private partnerships are optimizing trial sector

Public-private partnerships are optimizing Europe’s clinical trial ecosystem, helping make drug research more diverse and working to attract sponsors and CROs, according to the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA).

The Brussels group wrote about how collaborations are impacting drug studies last week, citing the Innovative Health Initiative (IHI) and the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) as examples.

In a post marking world clinical trials day, Magda Chlebus, executive director of science policy and regulatory affairs at EFPIA, wrote, “Europe has a strong track record in public-private partnerships in the life sciences.

“The Innovative Health Initiative, and its predecessor, the Innovative Medicines Initiative, support projects that drive systemic changes, which can improve the clinical trials process from beginning to end.”

As an example, Chlebus cited the IMI-backed Trials@Home project, which is looking at trial decentralization strategies, predicting that recommendations to emerge from the program would make EU trials more patient-centric.

Diversity

Public-private partnerships have been core to efforts to make trials more diverse and involve participants from traditionally underrepresented populations.

For example, an IMI-backed project called READI is looking at barriers to participation for underserved populations, such as ethnicities, LGBTQ+ individuals, older adults, and those from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Similarly, the EU Pearl project is developing tools for use in so-called “platform trials,” —which look at several candidate therapies at once — to make it easier for sponsors and CROs to run such studies.

There are also collaborations focused on the promotion of real-world data and digital tech in trials such as RealiseD as well as those looking at the challenges involved in conducting paediatric trials.

These efforts will help de-risk trials, eliminate bottlenecks, and are proof “public-private partnership works,” according to Chlebus.

“IHI projects are delivering concrete tools and infrastructure and establishing robust networks of research-driven partners that fulfill the needs and requirements of public and private sectors.

“Through simplification and capacity building, these collaborations can help Europe to become a more attractive place to conduct clinical research,” she said.

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