Important changes were implemented into the Russian Law “On Medicinal Remedies” (FZ 86 of 22 June 1998) since January 2005:

• Removal of the ban on investigators direct payments. Item 5 of Article 38, prohibiting direct payments to investigators from sponsors, was declared void.
• Additional requirement for investigators civil liability insurance.

The 5th International Conference “Clinical Trials of Medicinal Remedies” took place in Moscow, Russia, on 13 - 14 October 2005. The Conference was dedicated to the

• practical aspects of clinical trials in Russia,
• development of the legal basis, and
• State and Ethics Committees control on the research process.

 Prof. Tatiana Dmitrieva, the Co-Chairman of the Conference, announced the Russian National Standard on Good Clinical Practice coming into effect soon.