SGM Alliance announces call to action to address representation issues in clinical studies
In commemoration of Pride Month, the non-profit SGM Alliance this week announced a collaboration for companies in the healthcare industry to “work together on best practices to promote equal representation for sexual and gender minorities” — aka SGM.
According to an SGM Alliance press release announcing the effort, several of the world’s largest healthcare companies — including Eli Lilly and Company, Gilead Sciences Inc., and Pfizer Inc. — have joined the collaboration. “SGM populations include, but are not limited to, individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and/or intersex,” the press release explained. “These communities face significant disparities in healthcare access and outcomes, and historically, SGM populations have rarely been represented in clinical studies,” the press release continued. “As a result, even while some states have adopted anti-discrimination legislation and demonstrated progress regarding LGBTQIA+ representation in clinical studies in recent decades, many of the disparities in healthcare go largely unaddressed. “This initiative spearheaded by SGM Alliance is a first-of-its-kind collaboration bringing together key allies in the healthcare industry to standardize best practices and prioritize equal representation.
Garo Kiledjian, founder and CEO of SGM Alliance, said, “Outdated restrictions from the ’90s have prohibited HIV-positive and PrEP individuals from participating in clinical studies like those focused on life-saving treatments for cancer.
I’m proud to announce that the companies mentioned above, and others, are joining us to address these disparities and collectively are being a part of making positive change.” In addition to its sponsorships with healthcare organizations, SGM Alliance offers those in other industries a role as a partner through various allyship opportunities, the press release notes: “This new collaboration focusing on SGM representation in clinical studies is part of SGM Alliance’s
