Posted by Michael Wonder on 26 Mar 2020
Preserving clinical trial integrity during the coronavirus pandemic
25 March 2020 - Randomised clinical trials provide the highest-quality evidence for identifying therapies to help people attain longer and healthier lives.
As of March 2020, ClinicalTrials.gov listed 262 366 ongoing randomised clinical trials, including 146 420 trials studying drug or biologic interventions, 85 045 trials of behavioural interventions, and 61 351 trials of surgical or device interventions.
Suddenly, and quite dramatically, the coronavirus pandemic threatens the integrity of these clinical trials. The National Institutes of Health has advised investigators to consult with their institutional review boards and institutions about potential measures to protect participants and research staff.
