Despite economic hard times more clinical trials were initiated in 2008 than the previous year, boding well for the industry to weather the recession. Perhaps helping keep the industry active in the coming months and years is an increase in stem cell trials overseas after the U.S. government changed policy and allowed federal fund to be used for the research. All this and a look at how trials results from China are being called into question plus lots more in today’s news…

Clinical research activity up significantly in 2008 – WTN News – Madison,WI,USA – Despite cutbacks in the international biopharma industry, clinical trial activity was up in 2008. Overall, 795 new clinical trials were launched in 2008 … See all stories on this topic

Policy Shift On Stem Cell Research May Produce Effect Overseas – Life Science Leader Magazine – Erie, PA, USA – A total of 2147 clinical trials (Phase I-IV) for stem cell therapies overall were listed, as of June, on NIH’s website: www.ClinicalTrials.gov … See all stories on this topic

Randomized trials published in some Chinese journals: how many are …

The Good News: The first clinical trial for healing an injured heart by using a subject’s own stem cells is underway. Pfizer proactively and voluntarily halted a trial after results showed it was to likely to be successful.

The Bad News: The validity of clinical trials conducted China is under scrutiny because of too many positive results. A columnist says some trials may be rushed and done poorly to get drugs to market quickly.

All in all, another normal day of mixed news about whether trials are mostly helping or harming. Here’s to hoping that on this July 4 eve we start moving in a direction where there’s more good news than bad news for the American people and the global community.

Doubts Cast On Credibility Of Some Published Clinical Trials – Science Daily (press release) – USA- However, all RCTs of pre-market drug clinical trial were authentic, and RCTs conducted at hospitals affiliated with medical universities were more likely to …