A new Model Clinical Trials Agreement (mCTA) has been developed to speed up the process of medicines and vaccines research and development (R&D) in the UK life sciences industry.
The agreement was prepared by the UK government in collaboration with the country’s bio-pharmaceutical sector and was produced through the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI).
It allows the use of a single model contract for commercial R&D in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. This is intended to avoid the need for separate administration to conduct the same study in different parts of the UK.
Chair of the Clinical Research Expert Network at the ABPI Sophie Gillmore said: “At present, companies have to spend time preparing contracts in each of the four nations of the UK for the same study.
“The new mCTA will negate this requirement and should result in a faster and smoother set up process of commercial studies across the UK.”
The new agreement can be used by drug makers and NHS research sites to cut down the administration time before clinical trials can start.
Head of the Scottish Government’s Chief Scientist Office Ricky Verrall said: “Delivering a single UK agreement streamlines the research environment across the whole of the UK and improves our international competitiveness.
“This collaborative approach is an important step forward and supports our ongoing commitment to create an efficient, supportive and enabling environment for industry-sponsored trials.”
