Army of volunteers helps to test the next generation of medicines

Steve Woby: clinical trials

MORE than 1,300 patients are helping the Pennine Acute Trust to test new medicines.

The programmes offer people the chance to try new drugs when existing ones prove ineffective.

The trust offers drug trials for infectious diseases, diabetes, cardiology, rheumatology, gastroenterology, paediatrics, stroke and Parkinson’s Disease.

Steve Woby, head of research and development at the trust, explained the trials are high quality studies of drugs already well along their regulatory approval stages. Most have already been tested on humans and undergone safety studies.

Mr Woby explained: “Whether patients decide to take part in a trial or not often depends on their diagnosis. If they are fairly poorly and medications aren’t helping, people often value the opportunity to try some state of the art drug.”

He added: “Research is a core part of the NHS, which is about providing the best and latest treatments and innovation.”

Anyone who wants information on clinical trials can contact Katie Doyle at the Pennine Acute Trust on 0161 7203378.