Being a modern pharmaceutical company

Involves making information available on clinical trial programmes

What does it mean to be a modern pharmaceutical company? Rapid changes in society and advances in science and medicine mean that the pharmaceutical industry has several important roles today that would not have been apparent as recently as 10-15 years ago. To provide medicines of value the modern pharmaceutical company has to meet the needs of patients for better medicines while taking full account of the realities of healthcare economics. It has to harness scientific advances, particularly in genetics and information technology, and work in partnership with researchers, healthcare providers, and governments. One substantial outcome of these partnerships is a better understanding of the need for openness and transparency in clinical trials.

For healthcare providers the cost of health care is a paramount issue, and the industry knows that new medicines have to deliver real benefits over existing ones. Delivering better medicines—demonstrated …