Clinical Trial research in India and China: Myths vs Realities.

In the recent years two emerging economies, India and China are into the limelight because of many reasons. Among the many, it is reported from the various studies that many major global multinational firms are offshoring their Research & development (R&D) activities in these two-countries. In this context, this study is an empirical investigation of clinical trials being conducted in India and China. For this study, data has been downloaded from the ClinicalTrials.gov database maintained by the National Institute of Health (NIH), National Library of Medicine (NLM), the United States of America. The website is an excellent repository of clinical studies conducted globally. The study examines the number and the growth patterns of clinical trials. In addition, it was further investigated the different phases, disease conditions where the maximum trials are being conducted. From the sponsors' information, the collaboration network of sponsors is drawn. The study observed that there are certainly growth of trials in these two countries but not at the same rate as the global growth. The maximum number of trials are conducted in the mature phase of a drug (phase 3). There is variation in the type of sponsors or collaborators profile. In China, the Chinese institutes are the major actors (universities, government research institutes and other organizations). In India, both indigenous and foreign firms, are predominating in conducting trials. The empirical observations from this study will be useful for scholars, firms, policy and decision-makers in the governments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]