Patients ‘betrayed’ by Canadian researchers, advocate says of clinical trial probe – CTV
Nov. 23, 2023
A shocking study found that only three per cent of Canadian human research trials testing new drug treatments or therapies meet all three international criteria that ensure fair and timely sharing of results for all to learn from.
Its authors say the look at whether these trials are properly registered, with results reported and formally published, serves as a clear warning that researchers may be wasting millions of dollars of funding, along with patients’ time and effort.
The study, published in the journal Facets, reviewed some 6,720 clinical trials conducted in Canada between 2009 and 2019, all of which were listed on a public database. Some were conducted in Canada alone, while others had international collaborators.
An estimated 612,000 Canadian patients were involved, testing out treatments for conditions like diabetes, cancer, asthma, and multiple sclerosis, among others, along with the safety and effectiveness of new medical devices.
