Farmaindustria reviews data protection code for clinical research

Farmaindustria held a meeting in Madrid to mark the fourth anniversary of the Data Protection Code of Conduct, a pioneering regulatory tool approved by the Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD). The code was designed to apply General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) principles to sensitive areas such as clinical trials and pharmacovigilance.

Fina Lladós Canela, president of Farmaindustria, noted that the code provides legal certainty, enhances patient trust, and bolsters Spain’s competitiveness in biomedical research. It serves as a reference for other European sectors, as it was the first sectoral code of its kind in Spain following the implementation of the GDPR.

Discussions during the event focused on the potential need to update the code to align with recent European guidelines, particularly regarding pharmacovigilance. Participants also addressed emerging challenges posed by the European Health Data Space and the integration of artificial intelligence in biomedical research.