Both IOM and ASCO Release Reports on State of Clinical Trials
This month the Institute of Medicine has released a report titled, “A National Cancer Clinical Trials System for the 21st Century, Reinvigorating the NCI Cooperative Group Program,” that assessed, “…the state of cancer clinical trials, review the Cooperative Group Program, and provide advice on improvements.” Coincidentally, ASCO released the results of a survey of NCI Cooperative Groups on April 15, 2010, that relates to those groups limiting clinical trial participation. The similarity in both of these reports relates to funding, or lack thereof, of such clinical trials.
In addition to all the clinical, speed and prioritization suggestions that the IOM makes, they also note that eligible patients may decline participation due to financial concerns, “…as coverage of patient care costs in clinical trials by health insurers is inconsistent.” They suggest, “Among other actions, federal and state health benefits plans, private health insurers, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services should establish consistent payment policies to cover patient care costs.”
ASCO’s survey of NCI Cooperative Groups found that they, “…plan to limit participation in federally funded clinical trials due to inadequate per-case reimbursement. Additionally, nearly 40 percent of sites planning to limit NCI Cooperative Group trials reported plans to increase industry trial participation, despite expressing a preference for conducting Cooperative Group trials.” ASCO points out that such federally-funded trials, “…often examine questions that the private sector has little incentive to investigate.” While participation in federally funded trials may go down, the results also indicate that 39% of those decreasing such trials will be increasing their participation in industry-funded trials.
Both of these reports indicate a need for reinvesting in the kinds of clinical trials that may not produce dollars for private industry but may ultimately lead to superior cancer patient care. To read both reports, go to http://www.iom.edu/~/media/Files/Report%20Files/2010/A-National-Cancer-Clinical-Trials-System-for-the-21st-Century-Reinvigorating-the-NCI-Cooperative/NCI%20Cancer%20Clinical%20Trials%202010%20%20Report%20Brief.ashx, for the IOM one and http://www.asco.org/ASCOv2/Press+Center/Latest+News+Releases/ASCO+Survey+Finds+NCI+Cooperative+Groups+Limiting+Clinical+Trial+Participation, for ASCO’s study.