BioWorld, 18 February 2020
BEIJING – Multiple China-based clinical trials have been put on hold as the country concentrates on its fight against COVID-19. To curb the spread of the novel coronavirus that has infected over 72,000 people and killed nearly 2,000, China has imposed travel and transport restrictions, making trips difficult or even impossible for patients and physicians.
In Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, which alone has seen around 18,000 people infected, Yue Wang’s site management organization (SMO) is conducting 51 trials, including 39 oncology studies. She said that many visits have been cancelled.
The outbreak and the lockdown have made clinical researchers worry about how to continue their studies. The Drug Information Association’s China branch (DIA China) drew trial experts together last weekend to discuss business continuity plans for clinical studies. As vice president of Shanghai-based SMO Clinplus Co. Ltd., Wang was one of the speakers and she spoke of the situation in Wuhan.