Organization Spotlight: Trial Equity
The mission of Trial Equity is to address the underrepresentation of diverse populations in clinical trials, ultimately advancing health equity. Cofounder and principal consultant Dr. Otis Johnson has an extensive background in drug development—he was a founding member of Merck’s clinical informatics group, and held leadership positions in clinical research at other companies including Syneos and Icon. But it was in his role as Chief Diversity, Inclusion & Sustainability Officer at Clario, a company that collects data for clinical trials, that he fully recognized the disparity in trial participation, particularly among Black and Hispanic communities. He realized that Black patients were underrepresented in clinical trials by as high as 65 percent, and a large percentage of trials had no representation of Hispanic patients at all. “What that means is that you could have a loved one who needs to take a drug for a life-threatening condition, but no confidence that it's going to work because it wasn't tested in their demographic,” Johnson explains.
In an effort to find solutions for this problem, he founded Trial Equity in summer 2023. The company recognizes the critical role diverse trial populations play in developing effective treatments, and emphasizes the need for patient participation in the drug development process.
Trial Equity cofounder and principal consultant Otis Johnson
Trial Equity’s mission is focused not only on recruiting diverse patients but also on increasing diversity among the clinicians involved in clinical trials. The company offers a learning course designed for clinical research professionals, focusing on cultural sensitivity and effective communication when engaging potential participants.The course provides insights on addressing objections, fostering cultural awareness, and improving enrollment practices.
Trial Equity is prioritizing user uptake of this learning course within the industry over the next six months, focusing on broad appeal and applicability. The company's roadmap includes plans for intensive cultural sensitivity training and addressing regional and indication-specific needs based on requests. Furthermore, Trial Equity is developing a course to onboard new investigators, aiming to tackle the barrier of insufficient diversity among physician investigators within clinical trials.
As Trial Equity progresses, Johnson remains committed to addressing the urgent need for diversity in clinical trials, acknowledging the potential positive impact on finding cures and treatments for various health conditions, including rare diseases.
Dr. Johnson is a Pharmavoice 100 honoree and recently received the Healthcare Businesswomen's Association’s Honorable Mentor award, which recognizes a male ally who has demonstrated a long-term commitment to advancing, mentoring, and promoting women in the healthcare industry.
To learn more:
Visit TrialEquity.com to find out more about the company, or to request a demo of the course.
