This Report Highlights How Companies Can Approach Clinical Trial Diversity

On the tail of the FDA guidance on diversity in clinical trials, pharma companies are incensed to close racial disparity gaps in treatment. A recent white paper issued by Trinity Life Sciences, a life science consultancy, sheds light on a critical disparity in pharmaceutical research: the lack of racial and ethnic diversity in clinical trials. This omission raises concerns about the effectiveness and safety of medications for minority populations. The report, titled “Diversity in Clinical Trials: Life Sciences Initiatives and Challenges in Light of the FDA’s Latest Guidance”, emphasizes a troubling gap between pharmaceutical companies’ acknowledgment of the importance of diversity and their actions to achieve it. “For our literature review, we assessed company coverage of clinical trial diversity activities in the public domain,” explains Monique Marsh, Associate Director of Primary Market Research and lead author of the white paper. “We aimed to examine trends in current company engagement to understand how this landscape is evolving at an institutional level.” How many minorities are actually in clinical trials? The research paints a concerning picture. While over 40 percent of the United States population identifies as racial or ethnic minorities, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, their representation in clinical trials...