KARACHI: Breakthrough developments in medical research, along with the challenges and advancements in clinical trials, were discussed at a two-day conference that concluded at Aga Khan University (AKU) on Tuesday.

The Clinical Trials Summit of Pakistan 2025 was jointly organised by AKU and the National University of Medical Sciences (Nums).

The summit featured a series of keynote speeches and panel discussions covering a wide range of topics, including emerging trends, regulatory frameworks, innovation, community engagement, ethical considerations, rare diseases and patient-centric approaches to clinical trial design.

“One satisfying aspect of participating in global clinical trials is the opportunity for our patients to experience cutting-edge therapies for diseases such as hepatitis Delta, which currently have no approved treatment,” said Dr Saeed Hamid, Director of the Clinical Trials Unit at AKU.

He added that the unit, established in 2011, was committed to developing innovative solutions tailored to local healthcare needs.

Dr Bin Chen, CEO of HuaHui Health, praised the summit’s success in fostering collaboration, stating, “The conference was an exceptional platform for collaboration, innovation and knowledge-sharing.”

Notable sessions included discussions on the current landscape of clinical trials in Pakistan, with experts from various national and international organisations sharing valuable insights on strengthening clinical trials through best practices.

Additionally, a session on regulatory frameworks and global best practices was chaired by Dr Obaidullah, Director of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap) and Mr Abdullah Abro, Chair of the Clinical Studies Committee at Drap. Meanwhile, in-depth discussions on advancing oncology clinical trials highlighted the need for building consortia to improve access to cancer treatments.

Dr Khalid Matin, Professor of Medicine at VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center in the USA, emphasised the importance of global collaboration in cancer research, stating, “We need to work together to ensure the inclusion of patient populations globally in cancer research. Access to clinical trials is an important part of the standard of care in oncology.”

Dr Shalaan Beg, Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Texas, underscored the vital role of oncology clinical trials, saying, “The Clinical Trials Summit was an essential step in aligning government regulators, the pharmaceutical industry and local clinical trial infrastructure to bring more trials to Pakistan.”

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2025