Boosting drug trials: Experts call for collaboration to increase revenue
IV Report KARACHI: Pakistan's share in global drug efficacy trials is alarmingly low, with only 0.6% of trials conducted locally, experts revealed at a symposium on “Randomised Controlled Clinical Trials”. Organised by Unesco Chair at ICCBS, University of Karachi, and Pakistan Academy of Sciences, Sindh Chapter, on August 29, the event stressed collaboration to boost revenue. Director of Pharmacy Services, Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap), Dr Zeeshan Nazir shared with the participants of the meeting that only 53 out of 9,000 drugs trials worldwide were being conducted in Pakistan. Pakistan was earning only a fractional of the estimated USD67 billion global revenue, he added, stressing the need for enhanced collaboration between different stakeholders. On this occasion, Dr Nazir appreciated the role of the Centre for Bioequivalence Studies and Clinical Research (CBSCR) at Dr Panjwani Centre for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, University of Karachi, in capacity buil...