Africa clinical trials programme needs more flexibility, report says

The European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) should manage its projects more flexibly, and simplify its financial rules, a consultants' report has said.

The EDCTP is a partnership between 15 European countries and 48 sub-Saharan African countries that aims to speed up the development of medication, vaccines, and diagnostics against HIV/Aids, tuberculosis and malaria which has been running since 2003.

According to an evaluation produced by the consultancy Technopolis, the project proposals were perceived as too detailed and too complicated by project participants. The report, published on 31 March, recommended that the project timelines, budgets and activities should have more flexibility.