The statement pointed out that clinical trials were but one phase in the process of getting a new molecule to market and that takes an average of 12 years, seven million hours of labour, 6,585 tests and experiments and a 423 strong team of researchers.
There were no further details as to the specific targets for this new investment, but the sector’s regulator, Infarmed, told Lusa News Agency last month that there were a total of 353 clinical trials ongoing in Portugal.
Infarmed reported that, by medical field, such trials targeted oncology, nervous system ailments and infectious diseases.
By clinical trial phase, 4 percent are in phase one that tests the new molecule in otherwise healthy humans, 20 percent target phase two that studies the effectiveness of the new medication on patients with the respective target disease whilst the bulk of these trials, 72 percent, are in phase three that calculates the drug’s effectiveness in comparison with others and with placebos.
The remaining 4 percent are phase four studies that evaluate the aforementioned risks and benefits in a larger sample group and across greater lengths of time.