The Current Climate of Clinical Trials in Russia and Ukraine | Page 13

‘‘ As in Russia, compliance with trial requirements by participants is reportedly high, given the high level of patient literacy (99.8% literacy rate in those aged ≥15 years5) and respect for medical doctors, Clinical Trials Since 1996, 4,080 applications for international, multicenter clinical trials have been approved.40 Of the 155 clinical trials approved in the first half of 2014, 108 (69.7%) were multinational, multicenter trials.41 Some of the first international, multicenter trials conducted in Ukraine were oncology trials, resulting in considerable experience in this therapeutic area as well as good results on audits. Now, clinical trials are most commonly conducted for psychiatric, neurological, oncological, pulmonary and rheumatic diseases.40 As of June 2015, there were 1,281 active studies being conducted in Ukraine (clinicaltrials.gov), primarily Phase II (334, 26.1%) and Phase III trials (848, 66.2%), with fewer Phase I (30, 2.3%) and Phase IV (54, 4.2%) trials. As in Russia, compliance with trial requirements by participants is reportedly high, given the high level of patient literacy (99.8% literacy rate in those aged ≥15 years5) and respect for medical doctors, resulting in a willingness to cooperate with instructions and complete the trial. Moreover, because the health-care system has a vertical referral scheme, the selection of patients for clinical trials can be centrally coordinated, resulting in faster recruitment rates. Regulatory Requirements in Ukraine The Parliament (also referred to as “Verkhovna Rada”) and MoH currently regulate the pharmaceutical market and clinical trials. However, the National Strategy on Health Reform recommends that these institutions be re-profiled to create a better regulatory environment and improve stewardship.35 Pharmaceutical reform is a component of the national strategy and aims to ensure the availability of safe, affordable and effective medicines.35 This includes harmonization of regulations with those of Europe, as agreed upon by the APRaD, EFPIA and MoH of Ukraine on March 3, 2015.38 Although with recent focus and drive to achieve these goals, they have been in place for a number of years with a number of updated pieces of legislation in 2009, including the: • MoH Ukraine Order of 16.02.2009 № 95 Guideline on clinical trials. Medicinal products. GCP. Guideline 42-7.0:2008 based on ICH Topic Е6, Note for Guidance on Good Clinical Practice СРMР/ICH/135/95 • MoH Ukraine Order of 23.09.2009 № 690 ‘’About Approval of Procedure for Conducting Clinical Trials of Medicinal Products and Expert Evaluation of Materials Pertinent to Clinical Trials and Model Regulations of the Ethics Committees” (Registered at the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine on 29.10.2009 under № 1010/17026 and № 1011/17027) amended by: » MoH Ukraine Order of 06.05.2012 №304 “On introduction of changes into the MoH Ukraine Order of 23.09.2009 №690” (Registered at the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine on 07.07.2014 under №739/25516) (hereinafter – the Procedure); » MoH Ukraine Order of 12.07.2012 № 523 “On introduction of changes into the MoH Ukraine Order of September 23, 2009 № 690” (Registered at the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine on 20.07.2012 under №1235/21547 and №1236 /21548) 13