Diversity in Clinical Trials : A more inclusive approach in patient recruitment

We have seen a growing focus on patient diversity in clinical trials in recent years, but the COVID-19 vaccine trials in particular have highlighted the importance of achieving diverse patient recruitment. Between 2008 and 2018, fewer than two in three (63%) of the 230 clinical trials that led to cancer drug approvals by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US, recorded participants’ ethnicity. This lack of diversity is a major issue: studies show that different groups can respond to treatments in various ways, resulting in some medicines being prescribed differently. This session will highlight some of the factors underpinning the lack of patient diversity in clinical trials, investigate the implications this has for patients, and discuss what we can do in practice to improve diversity in clinical trials. Speakers Kate Shaw - Founder/CEO - Innovative Trials Sandra Amro - Global Clinical Trial Diversity Team Lead- Pfizer Jane Thurston - Senior Patient Recruitment Lead - Parexel Learning Objective What are the factors behind the lack of representations in clinical trials? What are the consequences of the lack of diversity in Clinical Trials? How do we improve diversity in clinical trials in practice?