Development of Ireland as clinical research center would help to embed the pharma sector in the economy

The Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA) has welcomed the publication of the Clinical Research Roadmap by the Irish Clinical Research Infrastructure Network (ICRIN) which defines the necessary steps Ireland needs to take to create a sustainable national system to support clinical research.

Speaking following the launch of the roadmap, Anne Nolan, the IPHA's chief executive, stated: 'The pharmaceutical industry has played a crucial role in the development of the Irish economy over the last 40 years. Ireland has moved from being a consumer of medicines to also being a very important manufacturing base. A crucial aspect in the development of the pharmaceutical sector, which has helped significantly to boost its contribution to the Irish economy, has been its success in diversifying the nature of its investment in Ireland from the original bulk active plants to higher value work.'

Ireland has a unique opportunity to position itself as a hub for clinical research, she said. Adding: 'Bringing early-stage clinical trials to Ireland would also help ensure prompt access for Irish patients to innovative medicines once the medicine has been approved, thanks to the familiarization of consultants at a very early stage of the testing of medicines while at the same time help the process of embedding the sector in the Irish economy at an ever-higher level of sophistication and value.'