Duke, FDA join forces to overhaul clinical trials

Drug developers typically plunk down about $500 million for a clinical outcomes trial, says Robert Calif, vice chancellor for clinical research at Duke University, and much of that money is simply wasted. So Duke and the FDA are collaborating on a sweeping review of the whole trial process, looking for ways to eliminate waste and increase efficiency. Everything is on the table, including a look at more efficient use of electronic records, an accreditation process for researchers and even the review boards charged with protecting patients.

- read the report from the Wall Street Journal's health blog