MENA: The Dawn of a New Era - Applied Clinical Trials

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MENA: The Dawn of a New EraThe Middle East and North Africa region has seen a recent increase in clinical trials research.

Publish date: Apr 1, 2011
By: Rani Abraham
Source: Applied Clinical Trials

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1. Trials in Latin America
2. The China Experience
3. Conducting Trials in Croatia

(Vladimir Maravic/Getty Images)

Clinical trials have had such a great impact on the global scientific community that interest in clinical research has transcended into regions that are relatively naive to conducting trials. Over the past few years the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has witnessed the dawn of a new era in clinical research. Though these changes have, by and large, not reached the entire scientific community, they have made a significant impact. Investigators are now beginning to appreciate the significance of conducting local trials.

The MENA region is considered one of the fastest growing economies in the world, with the key drivers being oil, gas, and petrochemicals. As a result, there has been significant investment in healthcare and modern hospitals incorporating state of the art equipment—now available for the conduct of clinical trials. However, this economic growth has also brought about marked changes in lifestyles of the local population. Sedentary lifestyle, low physical activity, smoking, and an increasingly unhealthy diet have become a part of this society. Consequently, the MENA region is thought to be on the edge of a cardiovascular disease epidemic. Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt are considered the biggest recipients of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) with investments ranging from $2 billion to $2.7 billion in order to address this issue. The governments of various countries in the MENA region are currently focusing on boosting foreign investment.

In order to boost FDI, hundreds of "free zones" have been introduced in the MENA region, which allow full foreign ownership of businesses. The incentives of free zones, besides allowing complete foreign ownership, are greatly simplified administrative and registration procedures for registration of new businesses. Some countries in the MENA region also offer complete exemption from private and corporate income taxes.

Many countries in the MENA region are also seeking to strengthen their trade partnerships with Europe through the Euro-Med trade agreements. Trade is also being promoted through the Pan-Arab Free Trade Area and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)—these entities are in the process of seeking membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO). In May 2003, the Middle East Free Trade Area (MEFTA) initiative was proposed by the United States with the purpose of creating a United States/Middle East free trade area by 2013. The changes to business and trade processes in MENA countries are expected to facilitate the growth of clinical research conducted in the region.

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Comments from our Readers


Posted 2012-03-06 10:57:03.0
Having just returned from the ME, working in clinical research, here is my perspective. While a small minority (5-10%) of well-educated, fore-thinking individuals who are in the position to administratively advance clinical research in the region, try to do so, the vast majority of those conducting the research, (PIs), practice medicine and have mindsets in the 1960s - not conducive to modern-day practice. They are stubborn and refuse education and change. Only when something is forced on them, under penality, will they react/learn. Like the humor here, of men not asking for directions and driving 3 hours and 250 miles out of their way, with their wives rolling eyeballs the entire time, that's what doing research in the ME is like. Instead of seeking the most direct route, egos/culture prevent efficient and most importantly, valid, reliable, research from taking place. Having money and investing in something does not always produce a good product - my experience with clinical research in the ME. At this point in time, I would not recommend placing studies there, which is why I left the region. They might change practices in the future, but it will be a long, up-hill battle.