ESH AL 2018 | The challenges halting clinical trial progress in ALL
Oliver Ottmann, MD, FRCPath, of Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK, raises the issue of slow progression of clinical trials in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and the factors that play a part. Speaking from the 2018 European School of Hematology (ESH) Clinical Updates on Acute Leukemias, held in Budapest, Hungary, Prof. Ottmann alludes to the lack of funding that presents a particular challenge regarding this topic.
Transcript (edited for clarity)
You raise an extremely important point particularly for ALL, I mean for chronic myeloid leukemia, the speed is not quite as important. In ALL, it can be exceedingly important. I believe it is a challenge which differs from country to country and from trial group to trial group that is ultimately linked with finances and reimbursement and staffing, and I think it would be incorrect to say that we do not have an issue...
You raise an extremely important point particularly for ALL, I mean for chronic myeloid leukemia, the speed is not quite as important. In ALL, it can be exceedingly important. I believe it is a challenge which differs from country to country and from trial group to trial group that is ultimately linked with finances and reimbursement and staffing, and I think it would be incorrect to say that we do not have an issue.
It is kind of at the interface where the more specialized procedures are not funded by the NHS or the insurers because they’re considered not yet established enough, whereas funding bodies say well actually they are so close to being routine that they’re not attractive enough to be funded. So that is a challenge, as is actually getting the funds for the standardization rounds that we are conducting.
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