It has now emerged that South Africa is playing a greater role in AstraZeneca’s global clinical trials and in the process furthering medical research and dispensing innovative treatments.

AstraZeneca has revealed that its clinical trials in South Africa are helping to revolutionize patient care at the grassroots while contributing significantly to the global health landscape.

The country has in recent years realized a notable increase in the number of pioneering clinical trials done by AstraZeneca in respiratory, cardiovascular, and oncology research.

The nation attributes the development in the medical field to her reputable healthcare infrastructure, a diverse patient population, and the presence of highly skilled investigators.

AstraZeneca has more than doubled its investment in trials in South Africa since 2021, accentuating the country’s increasing prominence in the firm’s global research strategy.

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It has 31 ongoing clinical trials in South Africa in varied therapeutic areas, which represents a 94 per cent increase since 2021 in cardiovascular, respiratory, and oncology diseases.

In that regard, AstraZeneca ranks top two in the pharmaceutical sector in the number of active clinical trials, evidencing its leadership in growing critical research in these areas.

The firm pays attention to key global health concerns like heart failure, chronic kidney disease, resistant hypertension, and cancers cementing South Africa as a leader in medical research innovation.

“Our focus on diverse, high-impact trials in respiratory, cardiovascular, and oncology therapies not only advances global medical knowledge but also brings novel treatments to local patients,” AstraZeneca African Cluster Country President Deepak Arora said.

He added: “We are committed to continuing our investment in South Africa’s healthcare ecosystem, driving scientific innovation while improving access to life-saving therapies.”

AstraZeneca pledged to conduct more than trials in South Africa by leveraging its expertise to enhance treatments that benefit both the local population and the international market.

It has led the way in clinical trials for conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cardiovascular trials to inform global treatment protocols.

The number of oncology clinical trials have been lower but impactful even as South Africa contributed to a number of key studies, mainly in lung, breast and prostate cancer research.

LOGOS study is one of the key focuses where South Africa is a global top recruiter contributing 296 patients (13.5 per cent of global cohort) staging South Africa’s expertise.

AstraZeneca South Africa Head of Clinical Operations Fatima Cassim stated that clinical trials formed a key aspect of AstraZeneca’s mission to deliver innovative healthcare solutions.

“We have successfully transformed our operation in South Africa, expanding from just a handful of studies to over 30 ongoing trials today,” said Cassim.

She added: “This remarkable growth underscores the increasing importance of South Africa in our global research efforts and highlights the dedication of our teams in driving this progress.”