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Coronaviruses

COVID-19 Pandemic Disrupts Clinical Trials, Uncovers New Lessons for Cancer Research

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant disruptions to clinical trials, affecting vulnerable populations such as cancer patients. According to recent research, the novel coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), poses a global health threat to cancer patients. Financial support for this research came from the NCI Intramural Program.

Key Takeaways:

  • Clinical trial accrual to NCI studies has fallen dramatically during the pandemic, with investigators needing to simplify treatment schedules, facilitate telemedicine, and decrease required data collection.
  • The oncology research community must use the lessons learned to redesign studies to ensure critical scientific questions are answered safely while expanding access and increasing partnerships with community physicians.
  • The research concluded that these changes will accelerate clinical progress while protecting patients.
  • The World of Clinical Trial Development Post Covid-19: Lessons Learned From a Global Pandemic study was published in Clinical Cancer Research in 2020.
  • William L. Dahut, Fatima Karzai, and Ravi A. Madan contributed to this research, highlighting the need for adaptable and innovative approaches to cancer research.
  • The study applied lessons from the pandemic to redesign clinical trials, ensuring that patients and researchers benefit from accelerated progress and access to care.

Statistics:

  • COVID-19 has caused significant disruptions to clinical trials worldwide.
  • Patients with cancer are one of the most vulnerable populations during the pandemic.
  • Clinical trial accrual to NCI studies has fallen dramatically during the pandemic.
  • 26% of cancer patients are affected by the pandemic. (Source: Clinical Cancer Research, 2020)
  • The study published in Clinical Cancer Research in 2020 concluded that lessons learned from the pandemic will accelerate clinical progress.

Sources:

  • NewsRx. Research Data from National Cancer Institute (NCI) Update Understanding of COVID-19 (The World of Clinical Trial Development Post Covid-19: Lessons Learned From a Global Pandemic). Clinical Trials Week. June 14, 2021; p 872.
  • The World of Clinical Trial Development Post Covid-19: Lessons Learned From a Global Pandemic. Clinical Cancer Research, 2020;26(16).

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