Patient involvement could improve medicines R&D

Pharma industry personnel believe that greater public and patient involvement (PPI) could improve medicines research and development (R&D) according to a survey that was part of the wider European Patients’ Academy (EUPATI) project

Researchers interviewed 21 pharmaceutical industry professionals, representing 11 companies, from the UK, Spain and Poland, with diverse professional roles including pan-European roles, about their attitudes regarding PPI in medicines R&D.

The report, published in BMJ Open, revealed that most of the professionals had positive beliefs about PPI and many were optimistic that greater involvement of patients and the public would contribute positively to the medicines R&D process.

However, those in Spain and Poland expressed more uncertainty about the benefits and value of PPI than those in the UK or with pan-European roles, researchers said.

The report also highlighted potential barriers to further PPI activity within the sector, including a sense that the concept was too intangible at the moment to persuade industry leaders of its importance and benefits, that organisational codes of practice currently represent obstacles to PPI and that it may be difficult to engage public and patients if they have negative views of the sector.

As a result of the study, the EUPATI project is discussing the potential for a new direction towards PPI in industry-led medicines R&D and has identified examples of patient/industry partnerships in this area.

Suzanne Parsons, health researcher at the public programmes yeam at Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CMFT) and The University of Manchester, said: “We recommend the provision and wide communication of strong case studies to improve awareness of PPI and its benefits among industry professionals. To do this, we need to identify what constitutes good practice, as it is still a relatively new field.

“It would also be useful for industry to revisit codes of practice to ensure they do not serve as barriers against greater PPI activity.”

Jane Griffiths, EMEA company group chairman, Janssen Europe, Middle East and Africa, said: “For different reasons, including cultural conservatism and concerns about regulatory barriers, industries have been somewhat reticent to engage directly with patients in clinical development.

“This approach is changing as we seek to understand and integrate patients’ views, and EUPATI is supporting patients with tools and knowledge for their meaningful involvement. Patients should be a partner in drug development, not just the subjects of studies.”