The COVID-19 pandemic has affected pharmaceutical companies’ abilities to conduct clinical trials and drug development programmes safely.
GlobalData has conducted a survey to identify how the COVID-19 pandemic affected clinical trial planning for companies in the first and third quarters of 2020.
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An analysis of the responses reveals that the companies believe that the pandemic will affect patient recruitment for the planning of trials as expressed by30% of the respondents in Q1, although the percentage dropped to 26% in Q3.
Investigator recruitment and supply of clinical trial materials were considered as the next major concerns by 17% of the respondents each in Q1, which dropped to 12% and 15%, respectively, in Q3.
Effect of coronavirus on clinical trial planning Q1 vs Q3
Cancelling or postponing trials was being considered by approximately 14% of the respondents in Q1, which increased to 17% in Q3.
The concerns regarding regulatory resources being stretched decreased from 10% in Q1 to 8% in Q3, while the number of companies who are considering changing trial venues jumped from 5% in Q1 to 11% in Q3.
In Q1, 4% of the respondents said that they do not plan to conduct clinical trials in the next two years, which increased to 5% in Q3.
Companies acknowledging that the COVID-19 pandemic will not affect clinical trials increased from 4% in Q1 to 7% in Q3.
The analysis is based on responses received from the Pharmaceutical Trade and Supply Chain Survey conducted between 07 July and 30 July 2020.
