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Clinical Trial
. 2024 Jan 11;14(1):e077129.
doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-077129.

Climate footprint of industry-sponsored clinical research: an analysis of a phase-1 randomised clinical study and discussion of opportunities to reduce its impact

Jason Keith LaRoche  1   2 , Rodrigo Alvarenga  3 , Michael Collins  4 , Thomas Costelloe  5 , Wouter De Soete  6 , Jeremy Faludi  2 , Kristel Rens  6
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Climate footprint of industry-sponsored clinical research: an analysis of a phase-1 randomised clinical study and discussion of opportunities to reduce its impact

Jason Keith LaRoche et al. BMJ Open. .

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to calculate the global warming potential, in carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent emissions, from all in-scope activities involved in a phase-1 clinical study.

Design: Retrospective analysis.

Data source: Internal data held by Janssen Pharmaceuticals.

Studies included: Janssen-sponsored TMC114FD1HTX1002 study conducted between 2019 and 2021.

Main outcome: Measure CO2 equivalents (CO2e) for in-scope clinical trial activities calculated according to intergovernmental panel on climate change 2021 impact assessment methodology.

Results: The CO2e emissions generated by the trial were 17.65 tonnes. This is equivalent to the emissions generated by driving an average petrol-fueled family car 71 004 km or roughly 1.8 times around the circumference of the Earth. Commuting to the clinical site by the study participants generated the most emissions (5419 kg, 31% of overall emissions), followed by trial site utilities (2725 kg, 16% of overall emissions) and site staff travel (2560 kg, 15% of overall emissions). In total, the movement of people (participant travel, site staff travel and trial site staff travel) accounted for 8914 kg or 51% of overall trial emissions.

Conclusions: Decentralised trial models which seek to bring clinical trial operations closer to the participant offer opportunities to reduce participant travel. The electrification of sponsor vehicle fleets and society's transition towards electric vehicles may result in further reductions.

Trial registration number: NCT04208061.

Keywords: Clinical Trial; Clinical trials; Health policy.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: JKL is an employeed of Janssen Pharmaceuticals and a member of the faculty at Delft University of Technology. RA is an employee of Environmental Resource Management. MC is an employee of Environmental Resource Management. TC is an employee of Environmental Resource Management. WDS is an employee of Janssen Pharmaceuticals, NV, a subsidiary of Janssen Pharmaceuticals. JF is a faculty member at Delft University of Technology. KR is an employee of Janssen Pharmaceuticals, NV, a subsidiary of Janssen Pharmaceuticals.

References

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    1. Association of british pharmaceutical industry (ABPI)/Carbon trust – blister pack carbon evaluation tool, version 1.2;
    1. Ecoinvent database V3.8. n.d. Available: https://ecoinvent.org/the-ecoinvent-database/data-releases/ecoinvent-3-8/

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