Half the 1,200 clinical trials conducted by a dozen of the largest U.S. pharmaceutical companies were conducted offshore in 2005.
So says a report from management consultancy A.T. Kearney, "Make Your Move: Taking Clinical Trials to the Best Location." The report cites China as the best bet for outsourcing clinical trials. According to an article posted on DrugResearcher.com, China was chosen both for cheap labor and facilities, as well as a huge urban patient pool.
A trial in China could cost half of what it does in the U.S., says the report. With clinical trials accounting for up to two-thirds of the cost of drug development, savings could be substantial.
Five areas evaluated included patient availability, cost-efficiency, expertise, regulatory conditions and infrastructure. India, Russia, Brazil and the Czech Republic followed behind China.
