Roche welcomes Health Select Committee report into improving New Zealand's environment to support clinical trials

Roche Products New Zealand welcomes today’s release of the Health Select Committee’s report as a milestone opportunity for New Zealand to become recognised as a world leader in clinical research. The report soundly documents the steps that need to be taken by the New Zealand government, clinical researchers, District Health Boards and industry – all working together – to ensure New Zealand can secure as many benefits as possible from its clinical research activity.

As the single largest investor in clinical research in New Zealand, investing close to $NZ15m this year, Roche is able to attest to the wide-ranging benefits that clinical research brings to the nation. Patients benefit from access to new treatments and a high standard of care, the health system benefits as the country retains health professionals wanting to work at the forefront of new medicine and the local economy benefits from inward investment.

“Many of the Committee’s recommendations are pragmatic improvements, which will cost little to implement but will make a huge difference in making New Zealand a more attractive place for clinical research investment,” said Jan Campbell, Medical Affairs Director, Roche Products New Zealand. “But there are also some big picture recommendations that will be crucial for success in the long term, such as identifying a single government agency to provide leadership on this issue.”

Roche is currently conducting new medicine trials in New Zealand for a range of diseases including breast cancer, melanoma, hepatitis C and metabolic disorders. Roche will continue to work with the New Zealand government and health sector to actively support the initiatives arising from the report and to ensure New Zealand continues to attract international research.