Money money money! There’s lots and lots of business news about clinical trials today. It’s a good reminder that this is a $24 billion-a-year industry that, from all indications, is weathering the recession well. Investments in trials for a flu vaccine in the United States, the development of trials and green technology (a new and potentially fascinating aspect of trials emerging now), even the impact of good ‘ol aspect are all being studied around the world and can be found in today’s update.

Australia CSL: gets $180 mln US flu vaccine order – Reuters – USA – CSL expects its H1N1 vaccine to be ready within a few months, with the company planning to start clinical trials to make sure the vaccine is safe and … See all stories on this topic

This is very cool! Chasing Medical Miracles is given a enthusiastic, informed, and starred review by Booklist (published by the American Library Association) in their June 1 issue:

“The concluding and most valuable chapter contains a checklist for potential participants to consult before signing a clinical-trial consent form. Must reading for anyone considering participating in a clinical trial, whether to test treatment for an illness they have been diagnosed with or not.”

A reporter for the Cleveland Plain Dealer participates in three clinical trials for post-cancer treatments and finds the experience uplifting, empowering and thoroughly positive. It’s a great story to read and enjoy so enjoy!

Participation in clinical trials empowering for reporter in fight – The Plain Dealer – cleveland.com – Cleveland, OH, USA – The Web site ClinicalTrials.gov gives easy access to information on clinical trials for a wide range of diseases and conditions. … See all stories on this topic

In February I posted on how the recession is causing more people to sign up for clinical trials either for money or for medical treatment because they recently lost their jobs and their health insurance. Today reporter Carley Thornell has a well-researched front page story in the Boston Herald regarding this phenomenon…

These trying times send more to medical studies – Boston Herald – United States -Interest in clinical trials has spiked among healthy people nationally as well, said Kristopher Sarosiek, president of clinicalconnection.com … See all stories on this topic

Lilly Advances Second Alzheimer’s Disease Treatment Candidate Into … PR Newswire (press release) – New York, NY, USA – In 2008, Lilly began enrolling patients in two Phase III clinical trials called IDENTITY and IDENTITY 2 for a different potential treatment for Alzheimer’s …

All the World’s a Laboratory – New York Times – United States – Clinical trials could easily be set up to include patients who show up for medical attention 72 or 96 or more hours after their symptoms appear … -

Clinical trials are my way to help others in their fight – The Plain Dealer – cleveland.com – Cleveland, OH, USA – A clinical trial (also called clinical research) is a study that uses human volunteers in an attempt to answer specific health questions. Two of the trials …

Controversy doesn’t derail stem cell progress – USA Today – USA – Unfortunately, he suggests that many of the things that drove gene therapy to try clinical trials before the biology behind the science was understood are …

Patients in Trials of Depression Drugs Called Unrepresentative – MedPage Today – Little Falls, NJ, USA – Explain to interested patients that much of the scientific evidence on antidepressant drugs is drawn from company-sponsored clinical trials. …

Globalized Clinical Trials and Informed Consent – New England Journal of Medicine (subscription) – MA, USA – The increasing globalization of clinical research trials calls for more effective ethical and legal rules to protect both research subjects and scientific …