Critical Analysis of Non-profit Clinical Trials: Three Years of Activity at the Clinical Trials Office.

Abstract

Introduction: Non-profit clinical trials submitted for authorization over three years to the Clinical Trials Office of the Italian Medicines Agency were reviewed and critically analyzed.

Objective: The objectives are to highlight potential trends following the full implementation of Regulation (EU) No. 536/2014 and to reveal the different nuances of non-profit clinical trials, comparing them with the general profile of all clinical trials.

Methods: Using a multidisciplinary approach, the research navigates public data, official documents and data retrieved from the Italian National Observatory on Clinical Trials and from the European Clinical Trials Information System to reveal shifts in the clinical trials landscape.

Results: A decrease in non-profit applications submitted in the 2020-2022 timeframe is emerging, clearly related to the new regulatory complexities and uncertainties in the adoption of the Clinical Trials Information System platform. Results also show a divergence between nonprofit and overall clinical trials in terms of authorization outcomes, also including studies with a COVID-19 indication. Further comparing non-profit studies with the total number of clinical trials across different characteristics, such as phases, therapeutic areas and study purposes, increases transparency and availability of insight information.

Conclusion: Relevant data are provided as a result of the review and analysis of non-profit clinical trials, highlighting specific features. Overall, this critical analysis provides an overview of recent trends and, also promotes insights for further consideration by regulators to adequately support clinical research in a complex and evolving regulatory environment.