KARACHI: While over 9,000 drug trials are underway globally, only 53 are taking place in Pakistan, which shows that the country’s contribution to the global clinical trials market, which generates $67 billion in revenue, is minimal.
This was stated by Dr. Zeeshan Nazir, Director of Pharmacy Services at the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), at the inaugural ceremony of a one-day symposium on "Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials (RCCT) in Pakistan" recently held at the Prof. Salimuzzaman Siddiqui Auditorium, University of Karachi.
The symposium, organized by the UNESCO Chair on Medicinal and Bio-Organic Natural Product Chemistry at ICCBS in collaboration with the Pakistan Academy of Sciences Sindh Chapter, focused on addressing the challenges and opportunities in clinical research.
Dr. Nazir stressed the need for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to boost the country's participation in clinical research. He praised the KU Center for Bioequivalence Studies and Clinical Research (CBSCR) for its efforts in capacity building.
Dr. Nazir reiterated DRAP's commitment to maintaining high-quality standards while expediting assessments to facilitate research without compromising on quality.
He highlighted DRAP's crucial role as a regulator, stressing the impact of its decisions on public health, the healthcare system, and research and development.
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Raza Shah, in his address, lauded CBSCR’s innovative approach, combining expertise, resources, and advanced technology to meet research needs efficiently.
He emphasized the center's role in helping partners overcome regulatory challenges and achieve excellence in clinical trials.
