Clinical Drug Trials in Argentina

Pharmaceutical companies are increasingly conducting clinical drug trials on people in developing countries or emerging economies. In addition to China, Brazil and South Africa, Argentina is a primary destination for this activity. Although the country’s regulatory standards are often cited as exemplary, the actual conduct of clinical trials there is anything but perfect. From enrolling babies from among the population’s poorest segments to improperly using placebo on schizophrenic adolescents, and even using a “standard” unapproved treatment, pharmaceutical companies too often exploit the flaws in Argentina’s regulatory system to avoid their ethical obligations.