Fintrials

Summary

Clinical trials sponsored by pharmaceutical companies are a central part of the development process for new innovative medicines. These trials assess the efficacy and safety of medicines in patients, with their significance extending beyond the treatment of individual patients to the advancement of the entire healthcare system and the national economy.

However, in recent years, the number of clinical trials conducted in Finland has declined significantly. This is due to several structural, legislative, and economic challenges that hinder Finland’s ability to attract clinical trials. The crucial issues include fragmented operating models, insufficient national coordination, and slow, complex processes that hinder the creation of an internationally competitive research environment.

Pharmaceutical companies are seeking smoother, faster, and more cost-effective operating environments where the initiation and execution of clinical trials can proceed reliably. One example of such an environment is Denmark, where the Trial Nation model has been developed. In contrast, Finland’s current model, where each hospital unit operates according to its own practices, fails to provide a clear or predictable service pathway.

Without unified national procedures and stronger collaboration among stakeholders, Finland will continue to risk its competitive edge to countries that have already streamlined their processes.

This report proposes a national collaboration model that strengthens Finland’s position as an attractive location for commercial clinical trials.

The model builds on existing structures, such as ongoing practices and procedures within the wellbeing services counties. At the heart of the model is a centralised “one-stop shop” approach. This includes national coordination, shared processes and metrics, and regional research units (Clinical Trial Offices), all forming a unified research network. The aim is to create a cohesive, transparent, and competitive operating environment that enables an increase in the volume of clinical trials, greater investments, and improved access for patients to new treatments.

Key areas of development within the FinTrials model include standardising and accelerating feasibility assessments, boosting national collaboration and clarifying division of responsibilities, and strengthening the infrastructure for clinical trials. Additionally, the model aims to establish a set of metrics to track the number, quality, and impact of trials, and to develop incentives at both the organisational and individual levels.

Crucially, the implementation of customer relationship management and feasibility systems is proposed to provide a real-time overview of research capabilities and demand for trials. The report also includes a cost estimate and funding options for the proposed operating model.

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Petri Lehto

Lead Specialist, DigiHealth – Transforming Healthcare with AI and Data

Emma Honkala

Specialist, DigiHealth – Transforming Healthcare with AI and Data