Hungary to Expand Clinical Trial Offering

Hungary is seeking to become a gateway for European clinical trials, according to a report from IMS's Biopharmatiques. The country is currently third in the Central and Eastern European (CEE) states with regard to the numbers of clinical trials conducted (first and second are Poland and the Czech Republic respectively). 320 studies were authorized in Hungary in 2007, with 313 in 2008 and in 2009 (around half being Phase III studies). The country's oldest contract research organization (CRO), HungaroTrial, is currently studying an increase in capital to extend its activities further in the region, in particular to the Ukraine. It is also seeking to open an office in the US and, with its sister company, ME Trial Masters Ltd, has set up a number of clinical research training courses.

The CEE region offers a number of advantages for companies wishing to conduct clinical trials. There is a high incidence of certain diseases, particularly cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases, and clinical trial participation allows many patients not previously treated to access healthcare, make rapid patient recruitment easier.