Clinical Trials in Global Health 2025

The landscape of clinical trials has undergone significant changes, as highlighted in the current Series of six papers published in The Lancet Global Health. The WHO guidance provides a comprehensive framework to enhance clinical trial infrastructure, focusing on patient and community engagement, especially for under-represented populations. Key barriers identified include poor trial design, lack of inclusivity, inadequate infrastructure in low and middle-income countries, and inefficient approval processes. The guidance advocates for risk-proportionate approaches and aims to support local policymakers. The Series aims to strengthen the clinical trial ecosystem, emphasizing ethical research, stakeholder collaboration, and quality improvement through strategic investments. This initiative seeks to promote equity, efficiency, inclusion, and engagement in clinical trials, ultimately improving global health outcomes.