Increasing COVID-19 cases, lockdowns in UK, US slow resumption of global clinical trials: GlobalData

From October 12- November 16, ongoing, recruiting trials decreased from 82.4 per cent to 78.6 per cent, and completed trials only increased from 6.8 per cent to 8.1 per cent

Lockdowns in the UK and some US states may be contributing to the slight slowing in the trajectory of ‘resumed’ trials, says GlobalData.

The number of resumed trials increased from 797 on October 12 to 841 on November 16. However, this value only increased by 44 trials, the smallest difference since July. Out of the trials in mid-November, 78.6 per cent are currently recruiting participants, 8.9 per cent have completed recruitment but are still ongoing, and 0.7 per cent of trials has yet to start recruiting subjects.

Priya Nair, Pharma Analyst, GlobalData, comments, “There is a very slight, steady increase of trials resuming activity. The general trend has been a gradual increase in the overall percentage of trials for each trial status – the biggest of which has been seen in ongoing, recruiting trials and ongoing, not recruiting trials.”

From October 12- November 16, ongoing, recruiting trials decreased from 82.4 per cent to 78.6 per cent, and completed trials only increased from 6.8 per cent to 8.1 per cent.

Nair concludes, “With the announcement of the success of two vaccine candidates, it appears that development is underway for global vaccination procedures. If successful, restriction measures may be eased considerably by spring 2021, forecasting for an increased number of non-COVID-19-related trials to resume activity.”