- Scottish physician James Lind conducted the first documented clinical trial in history on May 20, 1747.
- Since then it is a mandatory process for the development of any medicine or treatment.
- In 2020 alone, more than five thousand studies were carried out globally.
In order to develop any medicine or treatment, years and even decades of research are required. It is a long mandatory process that has the objective of identifying if they really work for what they were created. The core process is made up of clinical trials.
During these studies, their safety and efficacy are evaluated. In 2020 alone, more than five thousand studies were carried out globally. Of the figure mentioned, approximately 30% was dedicated to the prevention or treatment of Covid-19.
How did International Clinical Trials Day come about?
All this acquires relevance because every May 20th the International Day of Clinical Trials is commemorated. The reason is because on that date but in 1747, the Scottish doctor James Lind made the first documented study in history.
Aboard the ship Salisbury, Lind divided 12 scurvy-stricken sailors into six pairs and gave each pair a different supplement to their diet. The sailors who received lemons were the ones who improved. Since then, clinical trials have made it possible to save and improve the lives of many people.
Since then, it is a central part of Medicine. In this regard, Michelle Argüelles, director of clinical research at MSD Mexico, points out that the participation of patients from our country in international studies is very relevant. In addition to providing certainty about the safety and efficacy of treatments, it also helps to facilitate patients’ access to therapies that they otherwise would not be able to access.
“In the case of Mexico, in the last 3 years, MSD invested 34.9 million dollars in 71 clinical research studies with the participation of 1,005 patients. This, in addition to the budget allocated for 2022, which is 15 million dollars”.
To commemorate this International Clinical Trial Day and highlight its value, the specialist highlights five relevant points about these investigations.
- Investment in clinical research has a multiplier effect. According to a study conducted by the WifOR Institute and the Mexican Association of Pharmaceutical Research Industries (AMIIF), For each peso invested in Mexico in clinical research, an economic benefit of 1.54 pesos is generated.
- Diversity is key in clinical trials. A treatment can have different reactions depending on the age, gender, race or ethnic group of the people. For this reason, it is important that studies are carried out in a diverse group of participants. This ensures that it will work in different communities. Mexico, due to its demographic and epidemiological profile, allows the recruitment of patients on a large scale.
- Clinical trials are one of the most valuable resources for finding new and better solutions to health problems. Something that cannot be forgotten is that the rights of patients, their safety and well-being, are always the priority. Between 2016 and 2020, approximately 17,000 Mexican patients benefited from clinical research in the country, according to a study by KPGM3.
- They can help with economic reactivation. Investment in clinical research can support economic recovery. In addition to scientific advances, these investigations they create 4.4 indirect jobs for each direct job.
- Mexico has everything necessary to conduct clinical studies. Currently, our country has both the infrastructure and the talent necessary to carry out clinical studies. The problem is that it still does not appear among the top 20 clinical research positions in the world3.