Board had fears for future of vital medical research

THE Irish Medicines Board (IMB) expressed fears for the future of vital medical research in this country during the drafting of new EU legislation to govern clinical trials.

The IMB repeatedly voiced concerns to the Department of Health up to the time a final draft of the legislation was formally adopted by the EU in 2001 after 10 years of painstaking negotiations.

Each member State has responsibility for drafting national legislation to implement the EU Clinical Trials Directive in its own country. The directive takes effect from May 1.