Clinical trials in Russia and Eastern Europe: recruitment and quality.
OBJECTIVE
To review the current situation of clinical trials in Russia and Eastern Europe.


RESULTS
The volume of clinical trials in these territories is increasing. The quality of the data obtained, ethical care and compliance with Good Clinical Practice guidelines is at least as good as anywhere else. United States Food and Drug Administration inspection data indicate that sites in these countries are often superior to those elsewhere. Large-scale clinical trials conducted in these territories have been subsequently published in mainstream journals. Territory-specific attention must be paid to communications' equipment and language. However, this is countered, for example, by the fact that most clinical research associates in Russia hold degrees in medicine, that patients with previously untreated disease are more easily found than in North America or Western Europe, and the participation of large, purpose-built, healthcare institutions.


CONCLUSIONS
Eastern Europe and Russia are well-established locales for clinical trials. These territories offer a solution to the competition for patients among clinical trials in North America or Western Europe.
Platonov
P
P
Lund University, Lund, Sweden. Pyotr.Platonov@evidence-cpr.com
D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D003142:Communication; D003284:Contract Services; D005061:Europe, Eastern; D006801:Humans; D019303:Multilingualism; D018579:Patient Selection; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D012426:Russia; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration / Q000592:standards