Economic impact of industry-sponsored clinical trials of pharmaceutical products in Austria.

Aims: Modern pharmaceutical product development is a long and complex process associated with significant investments by pharmaceutical companies. The innovative pharmaceutical industry accounts for the vast majority of expenditures in clinical trials of potential new pharmaceuticals and therefore generates economic activity within a country. The aim was to assess the far-reaching economic impact of industry-sponsored clinical-trials (ISCTs) of pharmaceutical products for the healthcare system and the national economy.Materials and methods: The study approach was based on three analytical steps. First, a survey among 15 pharmaceutical companies in Austria was conducted to evaluate the annual number of ISCTs subdivided according to trial phase, therapeutic areas and associated employees. Second, the monetary value of treatments performed in ISCTs was calculated based on a sample of clinical-trial protocols. Finally, the macroeconomic impact, measured in terms of value-added and jobs created by the conducted ISCTs, was calculated using Input-Output analysis by applying an extended Leontief-model.Results: The study demonstrated that €116.22 million spent in ISCTs generated a total value added of €144 million, €74 million direct, in 2018. Each year a medical treatment value of €100 million was financed through 463 ISCTs, with an average value of medical treatment of €37,068 per recruited patient. This represents a significant 0.3% of annual current health-expenditures. In summary, each Euro invested by the pharmaceutical industry in ISCTs generates €1.95 for the Austrian economy. ISCTs also created and secured employment in the extent of 2,021 full-time-equivalents, thus resulting in an employment multiplier of 1.66.Conclusions: In conclusion, conducting clinical-trials by pharmaceutical industry-beside its importance in its own domain-results in tangible benefits and a positive macroeconomic impact that contribute to the sustainability of the Austrian healthcare system by complementing its limited resources. Furthermore, it is a non-negligible factor in locational and industrial policy.

Effect of clindamycin hydrochloride on gingival crevicular fluid and immune mediators in beagles.

Gingivitis and periodontitis, two frequently observed conditions in dogs, are primarily caused by bacterial plaque. Gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and some of the biochemical substances contained in it are used diagnostically and to evaluate the success of treatment. A double-blind study using a crossover design was conducted to evaluate treatment with clindamycin hydrochloride on the amount of GCF and concentrations of its immune mediators (leukotriene B4 [LTB4], prostaglandin E2 [PGE2], and polymorphonuclear [PMN] elastase) in dogs. Ten dogs received clindamycin orally at 11 mg/kg/day for 14 days, and 10 dogs remained untreated as controls. After a 5-month rest period, the treatments were reversed. At the beginning and end of each series, the volume of GCF was measured and plaque and gingival indices were assessed on six reference teeth of each patient. Concentrations of LTB4, PGE2, and PMN elastase were determined by ELISA. In both series, plaque and gingival indices dropped significantly (P < or = .0001) in dogs treated with clindamycin. The volume of GCF also declined significantly (P< or = .0001) following treatment and levels of PGE2, PMN elastase, and LTB4 were significantly (P < or = .05) reduced in both series. The antimicrobial effect of clindamycin is not only due to high levels in the blood and saliva, but also to its presence in the gingival crevice.