Member-only story
Five Reasons Why You Should Participate in Clinical Trials
By: Seth Ginsberg
Medically reviewed by Dov Michaeli, M.D., Ph.D
There is an urgent and never-ending need for patient participation in clinical trials, Here are five reasons why you should consider volunteering for one.
People living with chronic disease(s) benefit enormously from the pipeline of medications brought to market by hard-working clinical researchers who design and carry out clinical trials of drugs that show promise after testing in animals.
In the case of arthritis, particularly autoimmune forms like rheumatoid arthritis (RA), there are already many approved medications, including complex biologics and biosimilars that are effective. These drugs are proven to both reduce pain, reduce joint damage, and allow people to live a better quality of life.
Despite these advancements, however, it is incredibly common for people living with one or more chronic diseases to find that they need to cycle through a variety of medications to find one that works them. Sometimes, they may also become less responsive to their current regimen over time. For that reason, and others, there is an ongoing need to research and develop innovative therapies that are safe and effective.