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Table 3 Reasons for discontinuation among 312 drug clinical trials in China

From: General characteristics and reasons for the discontinuation of drug clinical trials in mainland China

Reasons a

% (n)

Drug development strategy

31.4 (98)

 Commercial or strategic decision

26.9 (84)

 Lack of funding

2.2 (7)

 Trial exemption

2.2 (7)

Trial planning

32.1 (100)

 Protocol issues

13.1 (41)

 Poor recruitment

11.2 (35)

 Inadequate supplies

2.9 (9)

 Study centre availability

3.5 (11)

 Experimental conditions failed to meet requirements

1.3 (4)

Trial conduct

8.0 (25)

 Good laboratory or clinical practice

3.2 (10)

 Poor compliance of volunteers

0.6 (2)

 Insufficient preparation

3.5 (11)

 Poor management ability of the principal investigator

0.6 (2)

Studied drug

29.2 (91)

 Futility/lack of efficacy

22.4 (70)

 Safety

6.7 (21)

No reasons given

1.6 (5)

  1. aSeven trials recorded a secondary reason for discontinuation, including commercial or strategic decision (n = 2), protocol issues (n = 2), poor recruitment (n = 1) and futility/lack of efficacy (n = 2)