The EC Ensured that Clinical Trials Can Continue Taking Place in the EU during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Today, the Commission has published guidance to ensure that clinical trials can continue taking place in the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim is to mitigate the disruption of clinical research in Europe and therefore the negative effects of the pandemic, without compromising on quality and safety. These recommendations are an important part of the overall strategy in finding treatments and a vaccine to protect citizens against the coronavirus.

With more than 200 coronavirus clinical trials now registered in the EU database (EudraCT), the guidance offers recommendations for simple and flexible measures to respond to the current situation, and to ensure that patients participating in clinical trials across the EU can continue receiving their medicines, the European Commission said in a press release.

Commissioner Stella Kyriakides, in charge of Health and Food Safety, said: "We are in the midst of the worst pandemic in recent memory and it is absolutely crucial that we show flexibility in our rules to maintain research on critical treatments, including chronic and rare diseases, through clinical trials. Developing and deploying effective diagnostics, treatments and a vaccine will also undoubtedly be the most important breakthrough to stop the coronavirus. On 4 May, our international pledging conference will kick-start global cooperation and support for this work, with the aim to raise €7.5 billion in funding to the benefit of the global community. Together in solidarity, we will prevail."

Key recommendations of the guidance cover:

• Distribution of medicines to patients in clinical trials: the purpose is to protect the safety and well-being of trial participants and the integrity of the clinical...