With the support of RBW Consulting, we are launching our new report ‘Trial and error: Supporting age diversity in clinical trials’.

Most medicine prescriptions are dispensed to people aged over 60. As we age, the way we metabolise changes and drugs may affect us differently, particularly if we are prescribed multiple medications for different conditions.

Industry standards require that medications are tested for safety and efficacy across all age groups likely to be prescribed the drug. Older people often make up a smaller proportion of trial cohorts than would be expected to ensure a solid evidential base that the drug has a positive effect across 60+ age categories. What needs to be done to improve this?

This new ILC report will explain our findings from our expert roundtable in January 2023, and set out some recommendations for stakeholders at all stages of the trial process to improve age diversity. As more people are getting older and living longer, demand for medicines and interventions will increase. Trials must be made more accessible and supportive of older participants, enabling them to contribute to the study and broaden the evidence base for new medications.

During this virtual event, Esther McNamara, our Senior Health Policy Lead, will present the report’s findings and our recommendations. A panel of five experts will respond to the report and discuss how improved age diversity will benefit patients of all ages.

Speakers include: