Enraged over the negative propaganda that the Indian subjects, especially the poor and the illiterate, are being used as guinea pigs by the Clinical Research Organizations (CROs), pharmaceutical companies and other organizations involved in the clinical trials and bioequivalence studies, the Association of Contract Research Organizations (ACRO) will soon launch a publicity blitzkrieg to allay the misconceptions about the CROs in the country.


During the last two months there has been misleading reports about the role and responsibility of the CROs and pharmaceutical companies involved in the clinical trials in India, an ACRO leader said.


ACRO, in the interest of the general public and the CRO industry would soon be coming up with the facts and figures for apprising all concerned on the objectives of the clinical research industry, the key role it plays in aiming at the general population health and in bringing the expensive drugs within the reach of the common man, the leader said.


Ever since the drug authorities raided and unearthed irregularities at Hyderabad-based CRO, Axis Clinicals, in which the company is alleged to have conducted clinical trials of a breast cancer drug on nearly 30 illiterate agriculture labourers after luring them with Rs.10,000 each, there has been a public criticism that the Indian subjects, especially the poor and the illiterate, are being used as guinea pigs by the CROs.


Under this background of growing public criticism against this dubious activities, the ACRO held an emergency meeting on July 29 in Mumbai which was attended by over over 35 CROs, pharmaceutical companies engaged in clinical research and representatives from Confederation of Indian Industries (CII).


Condemning the recent events which have been misrepresented without fully presenting all the facts, the ACRO decided to come out with a detailed information and a clarification regarding all the issues concerned. ACRO pledged its support to undertake initiatives that would create positive impression amongst participating volunteers and subjects in clinical research. “Clinical research is important for the development of drugs and it is our responsibility to build a strong scientific foundation in the interest of billion lives. Outcome of research should be used in positive and meaningful discussion for deriving better healthcare benefits to the nation,” an ACRO leader who actively participated in the meeting said.


He added that ACRO has pledged in supporting these initiatives and work closely with all stakeholders in ethical conduct of clinical research. All ACRO members conduct studies only after obtaining all the required approvals including from the DCGI and Independent Ethics Committees.