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Our Priorities > Innovating for the Future Responsible Research

Research on Autoimmune Diseases

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Patient Well-Being in Clinical Trials

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Feedback from Health Care Professionals

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Commitment to Bioethics

Factoid

Researchers in Belgium are working to find better treatments for the autoimmune disease psoriasis.

Patient well-being is our top priority in clinical trials – in this study of the eye disease uveitis in Belgium and in all other trials we conduct. Our studies are designed to provide an avenue for continued treatment beyond the primary component of the study.

Nurses met at Reade Hospital in Amsterdam to discuss a proposed Abbott Web site, assessing its content and ease of use for patients.

Our investments in research and development enable us to foster new solutions for emerging health care challenges.

We recognize that biomedical research often raises ethical questions about the conduct of clinical trials, the use of new technologies and the welfare of laboratory animals used in research and related matters. Abbott is committed to the highest standards of clinical practice in all of our research, including areas of bioethics bearing upon the complex interaction of human life, science and technology.

Our bioethical principles are consistent with the World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki. These principles are embodied in our corporate policies related to the welfare of our patients, the conduct of clinical trials, the treatment of animals, the confidentiality of personal information and the ethical use of new biological and medical knowledge.

Our biomedical principles, embodied in our corporate policies, focus on safeguarding the volunteers and patients who participate in clinical trials. We adhere to our principles and policies – even when local law stipulates a less robust approach – in accordance with our high standards of quality, safety and transparency at all stages and in all countries where we conduct trials.

Clinical Trials

Our global policy on clinical evaluation includes a requirement for compliance with the applicable International Conference of Harmonization (ICH) guidelines.

The Abbott Clinical Research organization approaches the conduct of clinical trials with the patients who participate in the trials as our key priority. In designing trials, we strive to take into account the long-term needs of patients. In disease states that are chronic or life-threatening – and where interruption of treatment could have a negative impact on the patient’s well-being – we work to design studies that provide an avenue for continued treatment beyond the primary component of the study. These extensions also enable us to continue gathering important safety and efficacy information on the long-term use of the treatment.

Abbott registers and discloses all applicable clinical studies, regardless of outcome, in a publicly accessible clinical trials registry (www.ClinicalTrials.gov). We voluntarily abide by the PhRMA Principles on Conduct of Clinical Trials and Communication of Clinical Trial results and comply with all relevant state and federal laws.

Bioethics

Bioethics impact the complex interaction of human life, science and technology. Abbott believes that bioethics comprise all ethical issues related to the use of life science and technologies for the development and production of biotechnological and pharmaceutical products.

Abbott conducts our business in accordance with the highest standards of bioethics and promotes bioethical practices and procedures throughout all our businesses. Our bioethical principles are embodied in our corporate policies related to the welfare of our patients, the conduct of clinical trials, the treatment of animals, the confidentiality of personal information and the ethical use of new biological and medical knowledge.

For example, for any medical research using identifiable human material or data, physicians are required to obtain informed consent for the collection, analysis, storage and/or reuse of these samples and data.

For more details on the policies and standards that guide Abbott’s business decisions, please visit this report’s section on transparency.