- The Ribera healthcare group has a strategic agreement with Pratia, a research network with more than 90 centres in six European countries, which has already allowed the expansion of clinical trials in its university hospitals in Vinalopó and Torrejón and in the Ribera Povisa hospital.
- They currently offer a wide range of oncology clinical trials, including studies focused on lung and breast cancer, melanoma, and head and neck cancers, among others.
La Ribera Health Foundation has a strategic collaboration agreement with Pratia, a research network with more than 90 centres in six European countries, to combine the clinical and research management experience of both, in order to increase patient access to innovative therapies in three of the hospitals of the Ribera healthcare group: the University Hospitals of Vinalopo (Elche) and Torrejon (Madrid) and the Hospital Ribera Povisa (Vigo). Ribera and Pratia consider it essential to “raise awareness that, thanks to modern treatment methods and innovative therapies developed through clinical trials, the chances of success are greater than ever”. In recent years, up to 44% of all clinical trials have been conducted in the field of Oncology.
In the month in which the International Day against Cancer is commemorated, the Ribera Salud Foundation and Pratia remind us that this pathology continues to be one of the main causes of illness and death in Spain. According to the forecasts of the Spanish Cancer Registry Network (REDECAN), it is estimated that in 2024 286.664 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in Spain, which represents an increase compared to 2023. However, advances in Medicine, including clinical trials that introduce new therapies and drugs, open up new options for patients.
Education and access to treatment campaign
The awareness campaign “Together we can change the future” aims to inform the population about clinical trials, provide reliable data on the cancer treatment options currently available to patients and highlight the role of innovative therapies in cancer treatment. This initiative has been launched thanks to the collaboration between the Ribera Salud Foundation and Pratia.
Clinical trials, the key to progress
Research into new cancer drugs and therapies is at the forefront of modern science. For patients, participation in clinical trials offers access to the latest and often most advanced treatment options before they are widely available.
“Clinical trials are the only way to prove that a new therapy is more effective than current treatments. If a therapy really offers benefits, it must be scientifically validated and patients must be informed. They are the first to benefit,” explains Dr. Luis Cabezón Gutiérrez, head of Oncology at the Hospital Universitario de Torrejón in Madrid.
The oncologist and researcher from the Ribera group explains that “not all patients are eligible for clinical trials, but if a new therapy proves to be effective, many more will benefit from it in the future. Each phase of the study, from Phase I to Phase III, plays a crucial role in evaluating the efficacy and safety of new drugs,” he adds.
“Participation in these trials allows patients to benefit from innovative solutions that can significantly improve their quality of life. At our hospital, one of the country’s leading research centres, we offer consultations with oncologists, during which patients can learn about the possibility of participating in one of our open clinical trials,” explains Dr Cabezón Gutiérrez.
Modern clinical trial centers
The Ribera-Pratia Research Units, located in three of the group's hospitals - Torrejón University Hospital (Madrid), Vinalopó University Hospital (Elche) and Ribera Povisa Hospital (Vigo) - currently offer a wide range of oncology clinical trials. They include studies focused on lung and breast cancer, melanoma and head and neck cancers, among others.
Thanks to the synergy between Pratia, a European research network with extensive experience, and the Ribera Salud Foundation, a greater number of patients throughout Spain now have easier access to innovative therapies and receive the support of the best clinical specialists. “Through this collaboration, the hospitals of the Ribera group can introduce innovative therapies more quickly and offer patients a wider range of treatment options. In addition, Pratia supports the research teams with its experience, infrastructure and by streamlining administrative processes, something fundamental in a field as dynamic as Oncology, and we provide the entire medical team: doctors, nurses, assistants, logistics specialists and, most importantly, the patients,” explains Dr. Cabezón. This collaboration, he adds, “creates an ideal synergy aimed at helping cancer patients,” he assures.
For Dr Cabezón, “public education about clinical trials is crucial to increase understanding of the important role they play in the fight against cancer. We want patients to know that clinical trials are not only an opportunity for new treatments, but also a contribution to the development of medicine and future therapies,” he concludes. Detailed information about ongoing trials and the application process is available at: www.pratia.es/oncology/
