Ensaios clínicos com medicamentos no Brasil: uma análise das principais características

Introduction: The results of clinical trials (CT) are used by regulatory agencies around the world for the purposes of drug product’s registering and marketing. The Brazilian Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa, in Portuguese) is responsible for the registration of health  technologies in Brazil and for creating the rules for the analysis of technical issues in clinical trials. Anvisa has been working to update its regulatory framework regarding clinical trials with drugs in the country, to reduce analysis time and harmonize the normative frame according to international guidelines. Objective: To characterize phase III clinical trials, with drug products, conducted in Brazil from the publication of RDC n° 9, on 20 February 2015 by  Anvisa. Method: Exploratory and descriptive study, carried out in three stages: (1) quantitative analysis before and after RDC n° 9/2015; (2) analysis of the population participating in clinical trials that supported medication records; (3) characterization of the clinical trial performed  in Brazil. Results: There was a 20% reduction in clinical trials conducted in Brazil when compared before and after RDC n° 9/2015 by Anvisa; only 33% of the clinical trials that supported drug product  registrations in Brazil were performed with the Brazilian population; synthetic and biological drugs account for 96% of the intervention studied in clinical trials; placebo is still widely used as a comparator (37%); the pharmaceutical industry is mostly the sponsor of the clinical trial (86%). Conclusions: In view of this scenario, it is imperative to  strengthen pharmacovigilance actions in Brazil, in order to learn about the effectiveness and safety profiles of medicines after exposure of the Brazilian population.