NHC President Myrl Weinberg on Clinical Trials
The following question and answer interview with NHC President Myrl Weinberg appeared as a special feature in the Wall Street Journal on clinical trials.
Q. What is the largest barrier to increasing patient participation?
A. Individuals simply aren’t asked. Many organizations have done outstanding work to educate people about the importance of participating in clinical trials. We need greater support from both the public and private sectors to encourage participation.
Q. How can we best ensure the safety and cost effectiveness of developing medical products?
A. The National Health Council represents the more than 133 million Americans with chronic diseases and disabilities. People place great hope that science can produce break-through treatments. Unfortunately, new discoveries are judged by old regulatory science. These new drugs that address unmet needs today become the lower-cost generic medicines of tomorrow.
Q. What is the biggest misconception about clinical research?
A. Clinical research is not just about the sick. We need more people—including people in good health—to participate in clinical trials. The core objective is the greater public good of expanding knowledge, not just finding new treatments or cures.
Click here to view the entire feature.