Breaking Barriers: Unveiling the Persistent Gaps in Clinical Trial Diversity

The words in everyone's mouth

The Verbatim Pharma team attended several conferences in 2023, and what became abundantly clear is that diversity within clinical trials is the topic many people are talking about currently. It struck us profoundly that in 2023, we should be far beyond trials being led by one group, particularly white males.

It's not just about breaking stereotypes; it's about ensuring that the very essence of our society is represented in medical research. The diversity conversation isn't just a passing trend; it's a demand for change, an insistence on giving every voice a chance to be heard.

As the landscape of clinical trials transforms, it's important for this topic to be at the forefront of our minds. If it's not there already, it should be!

Ensuring that clinical trials represent the true community and population

In the past, clinical trials were too often conducted on white men because they were seen as the 'standard' population. This bias has persisted and consequently, other demographic groups, including women, racial and ethnic minorities, the elderly, and various socio-economic backgrounds, were significantly under-represented or even entirely excluded from many studies.

Thankfully, awareness and a global desire for change has placed a rapidly growing emphasis on inclusivity in clinical trials. Diversity in clinical trials today has become an increasingly recognized and prioritized aspect of medical research. Efforts are being made to ensure that participants in clinical trials reflect the diversity of the general population. Researchers are making conscious efforts to reach out to historically underrepresented communities.

Yet, despite progress, achieving fair representation is far from complete. There is still so much more that needs to be done!

For some context - in the USA, minority groups make up 40% of the population, yet 75% of participants in FDA-approved drug trials in 2020 were White. This over-representation contrasts with the higher burden of diseases in minority communities. For instance, 12.4% of pancreatic cancer cases are among Black people, who only account for 8.2% of participants in pancreatic cancer trials. This difference highlights the immediate requirement for clinical trials that include a diverse range of participants.

Understanding treatment outcomes across different minorities

Clinical trial diversity is important not just morally but scientifically too. The lack of diversity holds back the understanding of how new treatments work across different population groups getting in the way of reducing inequalities. Ensuring diversity guarantees that new medications and treatments are effective for a wide range of people, promoting fairness in healthcare. Inclusive trials provide a deeper understanding of how treatments work across diverse groups, leading to the development of safer and more universally applicable medicines. Beyond that, these trials develop trust among participants and accelerate the approval process for new treatments.

Building medical advancements through trust

Achieving inclusivity in clinical trials is not just about balancing numbers; it's about saving lives, creating trust, and ensuring that advancements in medicine benefit everyone. It is a commitment to a healthier future, where healthcare is accessible, effective, and fair for all.

At Verbatim Pharma, we deeply understand the significance of embracing diversity not only in clinical trials but also in our own team and the partners we work with. We take pride in our diverse workforce of ethnicities, religions, and genders. While we acknowledge there's more to learn and do, we believe our ability to connect with others is woven into our DNA because of our diversity. It’s not just a professional commitment; it's a personal value we hold.

Being diverse isn’t just a statement – it's our way of being, a warm, friendly, and professional environment where everyone's unique qualities are celebrated.