title: The unique status of first-in-human studies: strengthening the social value requirement.
abstract: For clinical research to be ethical, risks need to be balanced by anticipated benefits. This is challenging for first-in-human (FIH) studies as participants are not expected to benefit directly, and risks are potentially high. We argue that this differentiates FIH studies from other clinical trials to the extent that they should be given unique status in international research ethics guidelines. As there is a general positive attitude regarding the benefits of science, it is important to establish a more systematic method to assess anticipated social value to safeguard participants not only from enrolling in risky, but also in futile trials. Here, we provide some of necessary steps needed to assess the anticipated social value of the intervention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Humanities, Julius Center for Primary Care and Health Sciences, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan, 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: habets@law.eur.nl.
authors.forename: Michelle G J L
authors.initials: MGJL
authors.lastname: Habets
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Humanities, Julius Center for Primary Care and Health Sciences, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan, 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Johannes J M
authors.initials: JJM
authors.lastname: van Delden
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Humanities, Julius Center for Primary Care and Health Sciences, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan, 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Annelien L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Bredenoord
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D032984:Ethics, Research; D006801:Humans; D018570:Risk Assessment