Clinical trials: Japan ’s next chapter

Two years on from the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and patients ’ lives have been upended. Many gave up visiting hospital even when they did not feel well. The pandemic and resulting lockdowns, terrible as they have been in so many ways, also served as a valuable testing ground for hybrid decentralized clinical trials (DCTs) in Japan. First, doctors performed medical examinations online for COVID-19 patients. Then, doctors or licensed nurses trained in good clinical practice (GCP) followed up on patients, visiting them at their homes or designated hotels.While online medical examinations during the pandemic have proven their worth, they don ’t suit every patient. It’s the same with trial design, where the appeal of DCTs is clear but not every trial candidate wants to participate remotely.What ’s the best way forward for every patient now?This is the dilemma pharma and the wider healthcare sector is contending with now. “The idea of not leaving patients behind is a concept that we cherish,” says Shigehiro Miki, Representative Director, General Manager - Japan, Parexel International. The US and EU plan to continue using online doctors to provide medical examinations for their DCTs. But this is Japan, and considering the culture here is paramount, says Dr. Hirotaka Nagashima, Director of Tokyo Center Clinic. In addition, he says we must understand the hopes of patients who are considering participating in the trials.A neighborhood solution Catering to the patien...
Source: EyeForPharma - Category: Pharmaceuticals Authors: Source Type: news