Decrease in clinical trials in Finland continued into 2010

These days, the number of clinical trials performed in Finland at the order of the pharmaceutical industry is half of what it used to be in the peak years. The Finnish downward trend is also present in other Nordic countries but, unlike them, Finland has not been able to compensate for the drop. Pharmaceutical research generates more health, wellbeing and jobs. This is the reason why the future of clinical trials should be safeguarded.

The number of new clinical trials initiated by member companies of the Finnish pharma trade body the PIF decreased from 120 in 2009 to 113 in 2010. Compared with the peak year 2006, the number of new trials paid by the pharmaceutical industry has dropped by a half. This means that the number of new trials continues to decrease, although the number of all trials notified to the Finnish Medicines Agency FIMEA grew by a few trials in 2010.

In 2010, the number of ongoing trials also dropped by 21%, or by 100 to 373. Compared with the peak years when there were over 500 ongoing trials, these are now one third down. The clear majority of the trials focused on antineoplastics, followed by central nervous system medicines.