Ethics & Participation Benefits

Ethics of Clinical Trials

• Modern clinical trials are conducted ethically, systematically, and progressively on a scientific basis, and are essential research for the development of new drugs that support healthy human lives.
• Many people mistakenly believe that clinical trials are conducted in economically underdeveloped countries, but 50% of the world's clinical trials are conducted in the United States, 30% in Europe (Germany, the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, etc.), and the remaining 20% in Japan and other, mostly advanced, countries.
• To verify that a new drug is safe and effective, clinical trials are conducted in healthy volunteers and patients, which may expose participants to risks, including to their health. Therefore, to avoid repeating the mistakes of past clinical trials, trials are conducted according to systematic ethical principles that protect participants and pursue the integrity of scientific advancement.
• Before participating in a clinical trial, participants have the right to be fully informed about the purpose of the trial and its potential risks and benefits, and if injury occurs as a result of participation, they may request compensation or treatment from the principal investigator.
• Clinical trials currently conducted in Korea must be approved by an Institutional Review Board (IRB) to confirm that the associated risks are kept to a minimum and that the trial is worthwhile for its potential benefits. This ensures that the rights and safety of trial participants are protected.
• Therefore, clinical trials are no longer something to be feared but are rather indispensable to the development of new drugs through scientific advancement.

Benefits of Participating in Clinical Trials

The goals of clinical trials are to improve human health and advance knowledge about living organisms, and clinical trial participants contribute to achieving these goals.