Despite Brazil’s enormous potential, with its 212 million inhabitants, diverse population, and numerous clinical research centers and ethics committees, the country accounts for only 1.5% of the global volume of clinical trials. The global distribution of clinical trials shows that 55% occur outside the US, 30% only within the US, and only 5% are conducted both inside and outside the US, with 11% unspecified. These numbers indicate a substantial opportunity for Brazil and Latin America to contribute more to global clinical development.
The Role of Decision Makers and Clinical Research Centers
To reduce this disparity, decision-makers and clinical research centers in Brazil have a crucial role to play. Sites can improve their operations and maintain their track record of excellence by adopting solutions commonly used by industry and CROs. These include development programs, technology to support data capture and recruitment, and benchmarking initiatives. Benchmarking, in particular, is of great value as it allows sites to access market data, contribute to industry standards, and drive market change through simultaneous bottom-up and top-down movements.
The Power of Benchmarking: A Global Perspective
Benchmarking has been a key driver of improvement in several global industries. For example, the automotive industry has made significant advances in quality and efficiency through benchmarking, where companies analyze competitors’ best practices and set performance standards. This practice has led to improved product quality, customer satisfaction, and operational efficiency. The next important step for the automotive industry, driven by benchmarking, is sustainability. We are already seeing this with the advent of electric cars and the growing societal push for cleaner fuels and a paradigm shift in the movement of goods and people. Benchmarking has fostered healthy competition, driving growth in the industry, and it can similarly be one of the verticals driving progress in clinical research.
Conclusion
By adopting these strategies and leveraging Brazil's inherent strengths, the country can play a more prominent role in global clinical development, benefiting both the local population and the global research community.
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