Increasing drug experimentation in developing countries

Nature

Introduction of experimental pharmaceuticals into less developed countries where public health regulations are not restrictive, is an increasing phenomenon.

Incidence

Trials of new contraceptive drugs, for example, are often conducted in Third World countries which may have no preclinical requirements or supervision for therapeutic testing; pharmaceutical companies may wish to evade controls imposed for the safety of women's health in such trials. Drug companies in the USA, for example, spend between 15 and 20% of their research budgets abroad, mainly in developing countries, for all kinds of products.

Counter-claim

Drugs tested in developing countries are often for diseases, deficiencies, and dysfunctions endemic to the region and require on-site testing with the blood-types and other genetic factors of the native population, in their own environment, present on the trials. Developing countries welcome such attempts to supply their medical needs. Some, perhaps, neglect the opportunity to work more closely with the manufactures to build medical and scientific infra-structures, including technician training, clinical laboratories and local drug manufacturing.