Why in Central & Eastern Europe (CEE)?

Clinical research is becoming more and more complex. High scientific standards and regulatory guidelines require today a large number of patients in clinical trials for approval of a new drug. The average number of patients in clinical trials tripled since 1980.
The European Commission pointed out in the explanatory memorandum attached to the project of the EU clinical trials directive that demonstration of efficacy and safety requires multi-centre clinical trials with up to 50-60 study centres involved in a single trial.
These centres spread across more than one country making clinical development a substantial global process.
Large phase III clinical trials involve even hundreds research sites all over the world, recruiting into the same study patients in Americas, Western, Central and Eastern Europe and in other countries.
Until the fall of the Berlin wall there was some uncertainity about the quality of the research work in Central and Eastern European countries. However, as soon as travel to and from these countries became easier and the internet facilitated electronic communication of this region with the rest of the continent it appeared that the CEE scientists are skillful, talented, well-educated professionals, who are up to date with the latest developments in their therapeutic areas. These medical specialists became internationally recognized opinion leaders in many scientific groups. CEE investigators and the study sites in CEE are now well-acquinted with the Good Clinical Practice guidelines which guarantees respectance of patients’ rights, high ethical standards and reliability of the clinical research process.
They are willing to take part in international, high-standard research programmes.