ABSTRACT
The loss of European competitiveness in the pharmaceutical sector has been widely acknowledged.1,2 The European Union (EU) has begun to address this issue through efforts such as the implementation of EU Directive 2001/20/EC, intended to align the EU with international standards for conducting clinical research and to encourage innovation. For example, the directive opens the door to allowing advertising in patient recruitment efforts for clinical studies, a technique long in use in North America.
