IFPMA-LIF initiative improves search functions on CT portal

The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations and its affiliate, the Swedish Association of the Pharmaceutical Industry (LIF), have created a new technology platform, enabling a country-specific web site to allow its visitors to search for on-line clinical trial information, in their national language, via the IFPMA clinical trials portal search engine.

The new search facility is being pioneered on Sweden's FASS medicines web site (www.fass.se), and will permit Swedish doctors, pharmacists and patients to easily locate clinical trials information, by entering search criteria in Swedish. The web site carries over four million visitors per month according to the LIF's director of information systems, Per Manell, speaking at a press briefing. It is likely to boost the IFPMA's CT project, which currently has about 12,000 visitors per month.

Fred Hassan, president of the IFPMA and chairman of US drug major Schering-Plough said: "this new IFPMA platform is another contribution to transparency and access to information for stakeholders. It is a tool that promises to help physicians further enhance their care for patients, and to help patients further enhance their own health care understanding and literacy."