July 19th, 2017 FDA Releases New Clinical Trial Diversity Data Patient diversity in clinical trials is improving slowly – here’s one solution that might help speed things up. The FDA has released new data on participant diversity in clinical trials conducted in 2015 and 2016. Last year, of the more than 31,000 patients who enrolled in studies for new medical products: 48% were women (up 8% from 2015) 7% were African American (up 2% from 2015) 11% were Asian American (down 1% from 2015) 76% were white (down 3% from 2015) The data suggests, at least broadly speaking, that clinical trial diversity is on rise; however, we still have a long way to go in terms of ensuring study participation is representative of the general population. In a recent report, researchers Sheila N. Bello-Irizarry and Lauren Neighbours highlight the fact that African Americans represent 12% of the U.S. population, but only 7% of clinical trial participants. Similarly, Hispanics make up 16% of the U.S. population, but only 1% of clinical trial participants. In cardiovascular medical device trials, gender distribution is 67% male, 33% female, despite the fact that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. for both men and women. Demographic Disconnect The FDA’s increased emphasis on clinical trial diversity makes a great deal of sense, especially considering the relationship between certain diseases and ethnicity. Bello-Irizarry and Neighbours explain that type 2 diabetes, stroke, heart disease, infectious diseases (HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, STDs), and specific types of cancer “disproportionately affect ethnic minorities.” They also point out that “Differences in response to medical products have already been observed in racially and ethnically distinct subgroups of the U.S. population.” Racial and ethnic groups currently defined as “minorities” will make up more than 50% of the U.S. population by 2050 – Hispanics alone will account for 29%. As such, we need to ensure that clinical trials represent the ethnic and racial composition of their respective patient populations, to ensure the data generated from the study is applicable to those who are in most need of the treatment being developed. Using Digital Media to Increase Clinical Trial Diversity Effectively addressing the issue of patient diversity in clinical trials will require an industry-wide commitment and a multi-faceted approach. In my opinion, however, digital media is an obvious and immediately impactful solution that should not be overlooked. The primary roadblock to increased participation is a lack of patient knowledge and awareness – we simply need to connect more minority patients with relevant clinical studies, and ensure they have the information they need to feel comfortable about participating. Facebook, for example, has more than 1.94 billion active monthly users, but the audience isn’t just massive – it’s incredibly diverse as well. Here’s a quick overview of a few of Facebook’s key demographics: 28.03 million Latino users 20.6 million African American users 86.87 million female users Facebook’s advertising platform allows sponsors and CROs to target users based on their demonstrated “ethnic affinity,” in order to provide highly informative and engaging content about relevant clinical studies. This tactic, in conjunction with multilingual staff at call centers and investigator sites, could significantly improve the reach and outcomes of a given trial’s recruitment efforts. To learn more about how to leverage Facebook as a patient recruitment engine, be sure to download our latest white paper, “Social Media and Clinical Trials,” below.
Patient diversity in clinical trials is improving slowly – here’s one solution that might help speed things up. The FDA has released new data on participant diversity in clinical trials conducted in 2015 and 2016. Last year, of the more than 31,000 patients who enrolled in studies for new medical products: 48% were women (up 8% from 2015) 7% were African American (up 2% from 2015) 11% were Asian American (down 1% from 2015) 76% were white (down 3% from 2015) The data suggests, at least broadly speaking, that clinical trial diversity is on rise; however, we still have a long way to go in terms of ensuring study participation is representative of the general population. In a recent report, researchers Sheila N. Bello-Irizarry and Lauren Neighbours highlight the fact that African Americans represent 12% of the U.S. population, but only 7% of clinical trial participants. Similarly, Hispanics make up 16% of the U.S. population, but only 1% of clinical trial participants. In cardiovascular medical device trials, gender distribution is 67% male, 33% female, despite the fact that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. for both men and women. Demographic Disconnect The FDA’s increased emphasis on clinical trial diversity makes a great deal of sense, especially considering the relationship between certain diseases and ethnicity. Bello-Irizarry and Neighbours explain that type 2 diabetes, stroke, heart disease, infectious diseases (HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, STDs), and specific types of cancer “disproportionately affect ethnic minorities.” They also point out that “Differences in response to medical products have already been observed in racially and ethnically distinct subgroups of the U.S. population.” Racial and ethnic groups currently defined as “minorities” will make up more than 50% of the U.S. population by 2050 – Hispanics alone will account for 29%. As such, we need to ensure that clinical trials represent the ethnic and racial composition of their respective patient populations, to ensure the data generated from the study is applicable to those who are in most need of the treatment being developed. Using Digital Media to Increase Clinical Trial Diversity Effectively addressing the issue of patient diversity in clinical trials will require an industry-wide commitment and a multi-faceted approach. In my opinion, however, digital media is an obvious and immediately impactful solution that should not be overlooked. The primary roadblock to increased participation is a lack of patient knowledge and awareness – we simply need to connect more minority patients with relevant clinical studies, and ensure they have the information they need to feel comfortable about participating. Facebook, for example, has more than 1.94 billion active monthly users, but the audience isn’t just massive – it’s incredibly diverse as well. Here’s a quick overview of a few of Facebook’s key demographics: 28.03 million Latino users 20.6 million African American users 86.87 million female users Facebook’s advertising platform allows sponsors and CROs to target users based on their demonstrated “ethnic affinity,” in order to provide highly informative and engaging content about relevant clinical studies. This tactic, in conjunction with multilingual staff at call centers and investigator sites, could significantly improve the reach and outcomes of a given trial’s recruitment efforts. To learn more about how to leverage Facebook as a patient recruitment engine, be sure to download our latest white paper, “Social Media and Clinical Trials,” below.
