Experimental Deficit

U.S. pharmaceutical companies are sending clinical trials offshore to cope with the shortfall of willing subjects at home. A look at the effects of outsourcing, for both good and ill.

By Eric L. Reiner // Infographic by John Grimwade // Winter 2007

First it was call centers and computer operations. Now U.S. pharmaceutical companies are sending clinical trials offshore to cope with the shortfall of willing subjects at home. Here, a look at the effects of outsourcing, for both good and ill.

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The Outsourced Patient
Americans are saving untold thousands of dollars on major surgeries by traveling thousands of miles, even halfway around the world.

Cheating the System
From mishandled stolen shipments to repackaged fakes to scammers diluting medications, there are multiple ways phony pharmaceuticals get in the supply chain.

Two Steps Forward, One Step Back
The FDA and pharmaceutical companies have employed a number of methods to thwart counterfeiters—yet scammers seem to have no trouble keeping up.

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