Adapt & Excel: Flexible Clinical Trial Solutions Empower Sponsors Post-Pandemic

By Betsy Brown and Kathy Bradrick, Catalyst Clinical Research

The COVID-19 pandemic caused major disruptions in clinical trials across the globe and exposed inefficiencies associated with longstanding traditional models of clinical research. Over the past year, increased use of technology and flexible operational models (e.g., decentralized trials) have become more widely embraced as means to overcome challenges the pandemic caused or exacerbated.

However, as the biopharma industry returns to some semblance of “normal” day-to-day operation, sponsors and their vendor partners must determine how pandemic-related adaptations might benefit long-term operation, as well as when to apply such solutions to maximize efficiency and mitigate clinical research risks. To understand where it could be advantageous to continue applying such solutions, or utilize traditional methods, it is useful to examine difficulties caused by the pandemic and determine the effectiveness, utility, and potential longevity of the industry’s responses. With that baseline established, individual organizations will be positioned to leverage these tools and tactics on a case-by-case basis, guided by factors like therapeutic area, protocol/treatment parameters, patient location, and availability of resources.