The last decade has seen a proliferation in the number of investigational therapies, companies sponsoring active clinical trials, and with that, the number of collaborations between patient advocacy groups and biopharmaceutical companies. Collaborations aim to:
- Reach and recruit patients
- Help shape clinical development plans
- Ensure outcomes relevant to patient communities are reflected in drug development activity
- Support access to clinical trials for historically underserved communities
While well-intentioned, with few exceptions, collaborations between patient advocacy groups and industry have been limited in their effectiveness in making clinical research faster and more efficient.