Logistics
Clinical trials and tribulations
Even though they’re often a vital conduit between the drug and patient, ancillary supplies are sometimes seen as an afterthought for sponsors, who have been known to request items at the last minute. Medical equipment shortages during the pandemic made it much harder to secure the right tools for the right trial and, in the process, thrust the important role they play into the spotlight. Elly Earls speaks to Sanjay Vyas, executive vice-president of Parexel India and head of clinical trial supplies and logistics, and AbbVie’s clinical supply project manager, Aaron Steinbrecher, to find out how Covid-19 has led to more complexity in the sourcing of ancillary supplies and what strategies they’ve employed to keep trials running.
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hen the pandemic started, the healthcare industry’s focus shifted to Covid-19. Hospital wards were filled with coronavirus patients, while pharmaceutical companies raced against the clock to develop vaccines. Many patients who were being treated for other conditions, even serious, life-threatening ones – including those participating in clinical trials – were wary of attending their appointments at hospitals or
other investigative sites. Others, who had to cross borders to do so, were simply unable to. Keeping these trials running with patients confined to their homes meant study protocols had to change. Not only did investigational medicinal products (IMPs) need to be shipped directly to patients’ homes, but so did ancillary supplies, such as the delivery devices nurses at investigative sites would usually use to administer drugs.
Clinical Trials Insight /
www.worldpharmaceuticals.net
Robusta/
Shutterstock.com
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