[Focus on academic multicenter trials: impact of the German drug law on hematological/oncological therapy optimization trials].

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of legal regulations for clinical trials on study centers participating in investigator-initiated trials (IITs) in the field of hematology/oncology.

Method: Questionnaires were sent out to the heads of hematology-oncology study centers.

Results: Medical units participating in IITs have a good infrastructure and extensive experience in clinical trials. Depending on indication, a high proportion of patients have been treated in studies with the purpose to improve outcome. However, 35% of the responders will reduce their participation in IITs in the future due to a lack of financial support for staff involved in the extensive organizational tasks.

Conclusions: The widely recognized research field in therapy optimization trials in hematology and oncology in Germany is at risk. This will have negative effects on the patients as highly sophisticated protocols will no longer be initiated in several study centers, resulting in the loss of valuable data for the improvement of patient therapy and outcome. To stop this development, legislators as well as regulatory authorities and health insurances need to make the necessary changes in the legal framework.