SCORR Marketing, a global health science marketing and communications firm, in partnership with Applied Clinical Trials, has released the results of its Global Trends Survey Report. This survey was conducted with health science industry professionals to gain insight into the globalisation of clinical trials and, specifically, to identify the biggest challenges of operating multi-region clinical trials and setting standards in emerging markets.

"In this report, we provide information on the reasons why clinical trials exit from the U.S. and Western Europe, the locations where clinical trials are especially difficult, and where they are most affordable," said Anne-Marie Hess, senior strategic advisor at SCORR Marketing. "The report also shows predicted globalisation trends, the benefits to communities that host clinical trials and the priorities when setting global clinical trial standards."

"The survey results indicated that investigator selection and training are the hardest areas in which to set standards in emerging markets," said Lisa Henderson, editor in chief at Applied Clinical Trials. "Contract research organisations, however, said the clinical supply chain is the most problematic — indicating that there are no areas in which standard-setting is considered an easy task."