NIH sidesteps rumors withdrawing funding for Indian trials

NIH declined to confirm or deny media reports that it has withdrawn funding for clinical trials in India due to an unstable regulatory environment. According to clinicaltrials.gov, there at least 34 open NIH-funded clinical trials in India, including 12 trials for HIV infection and three trials for tuberculosis.

NIH said in a statement it is "following developments surrounding the amendments to the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules" in India and is "hopeful that additional information and guidance surrounding their implementation will pave the way for our continued joint endeavors." The agency said it believes "the protection of research participants involved in clinical trials is an ethical imperative, and we commend the substantial efforts being made to review the oversight of clinical trials in India." ...