Connecting pre-marketing clinical research and medical practice: opinion-based study of core issues and possible changes in drug regulation.
OBJECTIVE
To identify core issues that contribute to the gap between pre-marketing clinical research and practice as seen from the perspective of medical practice, as well as possible changes and potential barriers for dosing this gap.


METHODS
Interviews with 47 physicians and pharmacists who were liaised to drug regulation through their role in the pre- and post-marketing shaping of new cardiovascular drugs. Data were analyzed using methods of grounded theory and analytical evaluations.


RESULTS
Six core issues were identified that referred to the standards in drug regulation, the organization of the regulatory system, and conflicting interests. Pre-marketing trials should focus more on populations and research questions relevant to medical practice. In particular, variability in drug responses between subgroups of patients and demonstration of effectiveness should become major principles in drug regulation. An interactive post-marketing process in which public interests are represented was considered necessary to further guide research and development according to the needs in daily practice. Strategies for change could be applied within the present system of drug regulation, or affect its basic principles. Regulatory authorities were primarily identified to initiate changes, but many other parties should be involved. Barriers for change were identified regarding differences in interests between parties, organizational matters, and with respect to broader healthcare policies.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on the respondents' opinions, there is a need to focus regulatory standards more on the needs in medical practice. Therefore, regulatory authorities should further develop their influence in the pre- and post-marketing drug development process, together with other parties involved, in order to bridge the gap between clinical research and medical practice.
Wieringa
Nicolien F
NF
Department of Social Pharmacy and Pharmacoepidemiology, University of Groningen, The Netherlands. nwieringa@cvz.nl
Peschar
Jules L
JL
Denig
Petra
P
de Graeff
Pieter A
PA
Vos
Rein
R
D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D017277:Drug Approval / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D010595:Pharmacists; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'
D002317:Cardiovascular Agents