Bristol Myers Squibb introduce initiative to increase disability diversity in clinical trials

Launched in collaboration with the US-based non-profit organisation, Disability Solutions, which supports companies worldwide to achieve disability inclusion, the DDiCT initiative intends to make recommendations on how to successfully improve engagement, access, participation and speed of enrollment of disabled people within clinical trials.

The initiative, aligning with BMS’ broader diversity and inclusion health equity commitments, was introduced by the company’s People & Business Resource Group Disability Advancement Workplace Network (DAWN) and will be co-led by the Global Drug Development Team and DAWN.

In three hundred and thirty-eight phase three and four studies, 1.8 per cent of those with physical disabilities and 12.4 per cent of people with intellectual or developmental disabilities failed to be involved due to explicit exclusion criteria, according to a study conducted by the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Barriers to disability diversity within clinical trials, including medical equipment, ableist biases and inaccessible trial sites, were also identified in the study, deterring the community from getting potentially life-saving treatments.

Executive vice president and chief medical officer at BMS, Samit Hirawat has stated: “The long-term goal of our DDiCT programme is to develop trials that are accessible to the widest variety of patients. Through this work, BMS can set the standard and stage for access to life-changing medicines for people with disabilities.”

DAWN global people and business resource group lead, Tinamarie Duff, has stated: “The launch of the initiative supports BMS’ broad commitment to address every dimension of diversity, which means making the most effective medicine to include people with disabilities at all stages of access/trials. People with disabilities are excluded from conversations about diversity and inclusion, despite being the largest underrepresented group in the world and the only underrepresented group anyone can join at any given moment. Therefore, it’s essential that we broaden the scope of medical trials.”