GlaxoSmithKline has recently apologised and sacked its marketing agency for its plan to use a blog to promote clinical trials as a way to fund graduates through unpaid internships.
Recruitment is notoriously difficult and sponsors and CROs follow numerous different approaches to attract participants to trials. One of the main barriers is seen as lack of knowledge. A US study showed that over 80% of people were unaware of the safeguards provided by Good Clinical Practice rules and that 40% would be more likely to participate in trials after they were made aware of them.
However, the intended blog did little to further knowledge of the crucial role of clinical trials, painting them as little more than a way out of money worries…
The proposed article included the text: “Having a degree is fantastic, but that doesn't mean much to start with if you don't have work experience. Internships can be very valuable by giving you a step on that career ladder, but today most are unpaid. I did an unpaid internship for 3 months, and had a part-time job as well in order to support myself.
However, perhaps you won't have time for both jobs and would prefer an immediate income to tide you over for the coming months. Clinical trials could be your solution. Depending on the length of the study, you could earn up to £2,000 per trial for up to 4 trials a year, plus reasonable travel expenses."
The founder of the careers website rejected the blog as crass and “downright irresponsible."
Apparently, GSK had intended the post to serve as a general advertisement for clinical trial enrolment. It has apologised that it would have trivialised the role of clinical trials in developing new medicines and the important role played by volunteers in the process.
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