With the pharmaceutical industry pursuing COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, researchers are eager to connect with potential trial patients to enroll in myriad studies. SubjectWell has introduced a registry of patients that have indicated interest in participating in such research, to help contribute to development of preventives and cures—by the end of May, the registry included more than 67,000 motivated potential enrollees.
SubjectWell CEO Ivor Clarke told Outsourcing-Pharma that the COVID-19 has brought unprecedented interruptions to the pharmaceutical industry, along with an urgent need to develop a vaccine and other solutions.
Motivated patients
“As clinical trials for a COVID-19 vaccine become more widely available, we know our partners across the industry will need to find trial participants quickly and efficiently,” Clarke told us. “As part of regular business operations, our recruiters speak with thousands of patients each day prescreening them against the eligibility criteria for multiple Phase II-IV clinical trials; we found that nearly 80% of these people also wanted to volunteer to help combat COVID-19.”
Clarke also pointed out that having access to a sizeable list of potential trial participants offers pharmaceutical companies and other stakeholders a potential shortcut to results.
“The information from our COVID-19 patient registry list was developed to remove a large hurdle for our partners: access to interested patients and their medical information as they prepare to kick off widespread COVID-19 clinical research,” Clarke said. “By sidestepping the lengthy process of identifying participants for a clinical trial, the list can help bring about a vaccine at a faster speed, impacting the decision makers, problem solvers and general public during the pandemic.”
Eager to help out
Additionally, while the virus and pandemic have caused a great deal of fear around the globe, the SubjectWell registry consists of potential patients willing to brave whatever risks they may face to contribute toward a solution to the health crisis.
“The COVID pandemic has clearly had an impact on the public’s awareness of clinical trials and on the willingness of individuals to participate," Clarke explained. “We see this in the results of the ongoing survey that we have been conducting since the beginning of the pandemic to understand how patient attitudes toward clinical research participation have been affected; we also see it plainly reflected in the level of interest in the registry and in the types of comments we hear from patients who have registered.”
Clarke shared with OSP some of the comments patients offered when enlisting in the registry:
- “Yes, if I can figure out a way to help and make progress, I would love to be a part of something that will better people.”
- “If it comes to being tested, taking medication, etc., I would love to share any information I can.”
- A patient said he was very concerned about COVID-19 as he has family members that are essential workers and wants to participate in order to help.
- “I would love to participate to help speed-up treatment and have the world gain knowledge about the virus.”
The SubjectWell COVID-19 patient registry gives researchers access to individuals who could randomize for various types of trials, whether they are healthy volunteers with no previous exposure to COVID-19, currently sick with the virus, or who have recovered. Patient data includes general demographic information, existing medical conditions, past virus diagnoses, past exposure to the virus and results of positive antigen tests.
By sidestepping the lengthy process of identifying participants for a clinical trial, according to the company, the list will dramatically accelerate last patient in (LPI), which could ultimately bring a safe, approved vaccine to the general public faster.
For more information about the registry or to sign up, visit trialsearch.com/reg/covid19.