How close are we from achieving demographic diversity in clinical trials? Insights from Singapore

Abstract

Clinical trials are essential for assessing the efficacy and safety of new therapies. Because different patient subgroups may respond variably to treatments, it is important to emphasise diversity among participants. This approach ensures that the trial population accurately reflects the patients who will use the medication in real-world settings and helps generate broadly applicable evidence. Over half a century after Archie L. Cochrane’s call for robust, impactful and equitable trials,1 external validity remains a significant concern for clinicians when applying clinical trial results.