Developing Countries Warn against Unethical Drug Trials

A recent gathering of science journalists in Qatar was treated to a look at the dark side of trend.

The growing number of clinical drug trials in developing countries is associated with a well-known list of attributes. Drug companies hope to do studies for less money, gaining a big population of treatment na?ve patients to choose from. Developing countries hope for better access to meds and a shot at gaining some cutting-edge technologies for their economies.

But a recent gathering of science journalists in Qatar was also treated to a look at the dark side of the trend: A loose regard for ethics and a chance at spinning the data by overlooking side effects.

Ames Dhai, director of the Steve Biko Centre for Bioethics at the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa, said, "Less stringent ethical review, anticipated under-reporting of side effects, and the lower r