Clinical Trials

Learn About Clinical Research

A clinical trial is a scientific study that helps determine if and how a medicine works in people. 

Why participate in a clinical trial? Finding new and improved medicines is possible only through the help of people like you. Every clinical trial participant provides valuable information that might help advance medical research and knowledge.  

People take part in clinical trials for many reasons, including the chance to: 

  • Help in the development of a new or existing medicine that may benefit people in the future 

  • Receive study-related monitoring for their health 

  • Help find new cures and treatments for the future 

Clinical Trials in Canada

Health Canada must approve a clinical trial to validate its scientific value and ensure that it is being conducted according to good clinical practices and Health Canada standards. 

In 2020, Lilly Canada managed research at 418 sites across Canada. For more information on Lilly’s clinical trials, visit  www.ClinicalTrials.gov. Please note that this information is in English only. Or, you can contact our Customer Response Centre at 1-888-545-5972.

Diversity in Clinical Trials

Responses to medicines can vary depending on a number of factors, including someone’s genetic background, ethnicity, gender and lifestyle. 

This is why it’s critical for Lilly to have diverse representation in clinical trials – to gain the insights necessary to make medicines that will be the most effective for all people who use them. 

Regrettably, minority populations have been historically and consistently underrepresented in clinical trials. As a result, important information about how medicines work in minority populations is not always available. In response, Lilly has developed a strategy to increase diversity in our clinical trials and better understand the individual differences that may affect clinical outcomes. The ultimate goal of this strategy is to improve health outcomes for individual patients.

Transparency around Clinical Trials 

Lilly has a history of commitment to transparency of our clinical studies. In 2004, Lilly became the first company to voluntarily disclose the initiation of our clinical studies and the results of our studies in a publicly available registry. Since the start of 2014, Lilly has enhanced our transparency initiatives in alignment with the PhRMA/EFPIA Principles for Responsible Clinical Trial Data Sharing. Lilly recognizes that the responsible sharing of data from clinical studies has the ability to enhance public health while safeguarding the privacy of patients, respecting the integrity of national regulatory systems and maintaining incentives for investments in biomedical research. 

Independent Clinical Research

In addition to sponsoring our own clinical research and research collaborations, Lilly has programs for considering external requests for us to provide study drug and/or financial support for independent clinical research that is initiated, designed and sponsored by external researchers. 

Lilly considers such requests for support based on the research projects’ scientific merit and strategic fit with Lilly’s areas of research interest. These reviews are carried out by global committees composed of members of Lilly’s medical and scientific staff from relevant therapeutic areas.

Health care and research professionals may submit a research concept online. Please note that this information is in English only.

Two scientists point at experiment

Research and Scientific Discovery

Research and Scientific Discovery

Purple gloves emptying test tubes into container

Principles of Medical Research

Principles of Medical Research