Why are clinical trials still dominated by men? Gender gap raises concern

A line of people rolled their suitcases out of a clinical trial center in Seoul’s Gangseo District on Oct. 18. Leading the group was a young man wearing a black cap pulled low. Several men in hoodies and athletic wear followed. By the time the last participant walked out, 50 people had exited the building. All of them were men. According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, clinical trial participants last year included about 92,600 men and about 68,600 women, showing a clear gap of more than 30 percent. The pattern was the same in previous years. In 2022, about 90,000 men participated compared with about 65,500 women. In 2023, about 89,500 men participated compared with about 67,100 women. An investigation by the Hankook Ilbo found similar results. Reporters visited about 20 hospitals conducting clinical trials for healthy volunteers more than 20 times in August and observed that most centers were filled with male participants. This was true even when recruitment postings said “healthy men and women aged eighteen or older.” People with previous experience in trials said the saWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times