Why clinical trials are necessary to support innovation?
Participants in clinical trials can play a more active role in their own health care, gain access to new research treatments before they are widely available, and help others by contributing to medical research.
Trial participants have access to the most recent drugs, procedures and other types of treatment. Although there is no guarantee that a new treatment will be effective, many trial participants conclude that the possible benefits outweigh the risks. However, if a new treatment is effective, patients in trials are among the first to receive it.
Clinical trials contribute to overall knowledge and progress against cancer. Nearly all of today's standard treatments for cancer began in clinical trials. Clinical trials are no longer seen as a last resort for cancer patients who had no other treatment choices. Today, patients often choose to receive their first treatment in a clinical trial. Carefully conducted clinical trials are the fastest and safest way to find treatments that work in people. Unless clinical trials are done, medicine will never improve. Today’s cancer patients are benefiting from clinical trials conducted ten years ago.
In Paediatric Oncology, standard care is provided through prospective clinical trials and close to 80% of patients are treated within a clinical study. This is the only way to continue making progress for patients both in terms of efficacy and obviating long-term side effects, in a population affected by rare diseases.
