This paper provides a brief history of drug regulation, then describes the role of clinical trials and clinical biostatistics. International harmonization issues, such as differences in medical practices and cultures between Japan, the United States, and Europe, and the results of the International Conference on Harmonization, are covered. Ten rules for clinical trials are presented.
LilienfeldAN. Ceteris Paribus: The evolution of the clinical trial. Bul Hist Med.1982;56: 1–8.
2.
IngelfingerJAMostellerFThibodeauLAWareJH. Biostatistics in Clinical MedicineNew York: McGraw-Hill, Inc: 1994:259–284.
3.
Chuang-SteinC.A new proposal for benefit-less-risk analysis in clinical trials. Cont Clin Trials.1994;15:30–43.
4.
HendersonJ.Medical practice differences between Europe, the United States and Japan. In WalkerSLumleyCMcAuslaneN eds: The Relevance of Ethnic Factors in the Clinical Evaluation of Medicines.Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Pub: 1994; 97–106.
5.
SakumaA.Past, present and future of clinical trials in Japan. In OkunoT ed: Biometry, Clinical trials and related topics.Amsterdam: Elsevier Sc Pub BV: 1988; 113–129.