2021 Year in Preview: The Year to Come and the Year That Was

Recently, Serge Bodart, our Chief Commercial Officer, shared his insights in PharmaVOICE –  on the challenges and opportunities this year’s COVID-19 crisis has brought upon us.

Who knew? 2020 will be defined as one of the most tumultuous years in history: a global pandemic and civil strife giving way to innovation and greater collaboration.

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Even as COVID-19 vaccines make their way through safety trials and treatments receive expedited review and approval, the 2021 crystal ball remains somewhat murky in terms of what the future holds. Yet there are several trends and market factors that are expected to have a significant impact on the coming year. We’ve identified several of these trends for our annual Year in Preview issue.

We also asked our community of thought leaders to send us the trends they will be tracking in the coming months and years. We thank all who took the time to share their insights and shine a light on what the future holds.

We know for sure over the next 18 to 24 months that the conversation will continue to be dominated by COVID-19 and its impact on all areas of our life. Yet, as we adjust to a new world, business must go on… (PV)

Contributed by: Taren Grom, Editor

Picture_SergeBodartSerge Bodart, Chief Commercial Officer, IDDI
“The challenge of the COVID-19 crisis also represents an exceptional opportunity to question the way we “do” clinical research. While the pandemic has confirmed there is no alternative to randomized clinical trials (RCT) in proving a drug’s benefit, it has also exposed their vulnerabilities. Endpoints often require access to limited specialized resources, and the cost per participant prohibits recruitment and affects statistical power. What’s more, narrow selection criteria and unnecessarily restrictive protocols mean clinical trials do not always reflect clinical practice. SARS-CoV-2 has demonstrated that RCTs, in their current form, are inflexible and inefficient. But, in the face of necessity, it has also shown that it’s both possible and advisable to embrace new ways of designing, conducting, analyzing, and reporting clinical trials.”

Read the whole article here.