NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Saturday, March 12, 2005

Western drugmakers are shifting more clinical trials to emerging markets in a bid to save money, speed research and educate a new generation of local doctors about their products. Just how far the trend has gone was highlighted on Wednesday when researchers announced results from a 46,000-patient trial in China, funded by Sanofi-Aventis SA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co and AstraZeneca Plc. The study on blood thinner Plavix and beta blocker Toprol XL, presented at the American College of Cardiology in Orlando, was the largest ever undertaken in China and the second biggest heart attack study anywhere in the world. Yet it cost just $3 million.
Story available here.