KARACHI — Director of Pharmacy Services Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) Dr. Zeeshan Nazir said that more than 9000 drug trials are underway worldwide and only 53 are going on in Pakistan.
Very little share of drug trials in Pakistan, he said, and added that the total revenue earned from the clinical trial is 67 billion USD while the share of Pakistan is just a fraction. He stressed the need for collaboration between different stakeholders, and appreciated the role of the Center for Bioequivalence Studies and Clinical Research (CBSCR) at the Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, University of Karachi, in capacity building.
He was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the one-day Symposium on “Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial (RCCT) in Pakistan” held in the Prof. Salimuzzaman Siddiqui Auditorium, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, on Thursday.
The UNESCO Chair on Medicinal and Bio-Organic Natural Product Chemistry at the ICCBS, University of Karachi in collaboration with Pakistan Academy of Sciences Sindh Chapter, organized the one-day symposium. Dr. Saif-ur-Rahman Khattak, Director of Central Drug Laboratory, DRAP, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Raza Shah, the Chair holder of the UNESCO Chair on Medicinal and Bio-Organic Natural Product Chemistry, and Dr. Naghma Hashmi also spoke.
Dr. Zeeshan Nazir said that as a regulator DRAP is committed to upholding the stringent quality policy. At the same time, we will ensure speedy assessments so that the overall process can be expedited without compromising quality. The role of DRAP as a regulator is crucial because its decisions directly impact the public health, health care system, and research and development, he said.
He appreciated the role of the CBSCR, University of Karachi, and said that this institution is a committed problem-solver providing research and academic solutions to society.
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Raza Shah, in his speech, said that CBSCR offers a unique blend of expertise, resources, and advanced technology all under one roof, ensuring that your research needs are met efficiently and effectively. As a leader in the pharmaceutical services and healthcare industry, the CBSCR continuously innovates to help our partners navigate regulatory challenges and achieve operational excellence, he asserted.
