Pfizer and Headlands choose Texas for first research site under new partnership

Pfizer has teamed with trial site network Headlands Research to establish research facilities in areas with “highly diverse” populations.

The collaboration – financial terms of which were not disclosed – is a multi-year commitment to create multiple diversity- focused sites according to the firms.

It is intended to increase diversity in clinical trials of Pfizer products according to Headlands CEO and founder, Mark Blumling told Clinical Insider “Headlands and Pfizer are both strongly committed to increasing diversity in clinical trials.

“Diversity has been a constant focus for headlands since our inception. We are also committed to building sites. The combination of the two provides the ideal path to success in this crucially important diversity focused partnership.”

The first clinical trial site established through the partnership will be in Brownsville, Texas.
According to recent US Census data the five largest ethnic groups in Brownsville, TX are White (Hispanic) (90.6%), White (Non-Hispanic) (4.94%), Other (Hispanic) (2.48%), Asian (Non-Hispanic) (0.574%), and Two+ (Hispanic) (0.437%).

Blumling declined to comment on the location of the other sites, but did say they “Will be de novo sites outside of our current sites. Future locations have yet to be determined, but all will be located in areas of high diversity.”

Diversity

Participant diversity in trials – or indeed the lack of diversity - is a major focus for the drug research sector at present.

In April, for example, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) called on drug firms to developing plans to enroll more participants from underrepresented racial and ethnic populations in the US into clinical trials.

Speaking at the time agency commissioner Robert Califf said “The US population has become increasingly diverse, and ensuring meaningful representation of racial and ethnic minorities in clinical trials for regulated medical products is fundamental to public health.

“Going forward, achieving greater diversity will be a key focus throughout the FDA to facilitate the development of better treatments and better ways to fight diseases that often disproportionately impact diverse communities.

Partnerships

Deloitte has also flagged the lack of diversity in trials as a concern for industry. In 2021 the consulting firm published a paper calling for greater diversity in drug research.

It wrote that “diversity in clinical trials could lead to more effective new medicines and better health outcomes for racially and ethnically diverse patients.

“Greater clinical-trial diversity could also help generate deeper insight into drug response—and measures of safety and efficacy—in historically under-represented and under-studied populations.”

Deloitte suggested partnerships would be the best way of increasing diversity, arguing that drug developers should team up with local research sites and medical centers to reach underrepresented patients.

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