Industry Facts

1. Despite raised awareness around diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the pharma sector, there are still issues surrounding the implementation of DEI in research. For example, in 2021, around 86% of new cancer therapies approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had studies wherein white males were the main participant base.1

2. The issue of over-representation in clinical studies became especially prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic, where it was revealed that white people accounted for approximately 80% of the participants in both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccine trials.2

3. To help combat this problem, regulator y bodies like the FDA have introduced ‘Diversity Action Plans’ that offer guidance to trial organisers on patient populations.3

4. The inclusion of these Action Plans in new drug applications is becoming a government-backed requirements in some markets, including the US, showing how important DEI is to the future of research.4

5. Meanwhile in the UK, the NHS Health Research Authority (HRA) has begun a Shared Commitment to Public Involvement initiative to help improve DEI in UK research, which includes offering toolkits for clinicians to help imbed DEI factors into all stages of research.5

References

1. Visit: fda.gov/media/158482/download
2. Visit: kff.org/racial-equity-and-health-policy/issue-brief/racial-diversity-within-covid-19-vaccine-clinical-trials-key-questions-andanswers/
3. Visit: fda.gov/about-fda/oncology-center-excellence/project-equity
4. Visit: fda.gov/about-fda/oncology-center-excellence/project-silver
5. Visit: hra.nhs.uk/planning-and-improving-research/best-practice/increasing-diversity-people-taking-part-research/