Colombia's Clinical Research Paradox: Unlocking Potential by Confronting the Early-Phase Deficit Preparing for First-In-Human Studies Overview Colombia's clinical research sector is characte...
Colombia's Clinical Research Paradox: Unlocking Potential by Confronting the Early-Phase Deficit Preparing for First-In-Human Studies Overview Colombia's clinical research sector is characterized by a significant paradox: despite possessing numerous advantages that should position it as a leader in Latin America, it consistently underperforms. The country boasts a high-quality, near-universal healthcare system, a large and diverse patient population, and substantially lower trial costs compared to Western hubs. However, Colombia captures a mere 0.2% of the global clinical trials market, with its research activity stagnating over the past decade while regional competitors advance. This underperformance stems primarily from a systemic inability to attract high-value, scientifically intensive early-phase clinical trials (Phase I and first-in-human studies). This "early-phase deficit" acts as a critical bottleneck, preventing Colombia from leveraging its inherent str…