An increase in the number of drug trials carried out in Ireland by pharmaceutical companies will give patients earlier access to new combinations of cancer drugs, according to the Irish Cancer Society. The Society has announced £400,000 in research grants for 19 projects.
It is also giving £75,000 to the Irish Clinical Oncology Research Group (ICORG), made up of cancer specialists who aim to attract cancer research by drug companies.
In the past four years, 427 patients have taken part in 11 clinical trials here. An expansion of such research here means that "Irish patients will have early access to new combinations of cancer drugs, vaccines and novel compounds at the same time as patients in the United States, rather than having to wait three to seven years," Dr Brian Moulton, the co-ordinator of ICORG, said.