ROCHE WARNS ITS CLINICAL TRIALS ARE AFFECTED BY WAR IN UKRAINE
FRANKFURT (Reuters) – Roche has warned that Russia’s attack on Ukraine is disrupting the development of a new generation of multiple sclerosis (MS) drugs, with the sector disproportionately reliant on eastern Europe. is for its clinical trials.
“Ukraine and Russia have historically been very important contributors to clinical trials for patients with neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis,” said Bill Anderson, director of Roche’s pharmaceuticals division, at a conference. telephone call following the release of first quarter sales.
About 20% to 30% of patients in the global fenebrutinib trial program for multiple sclerosis come from Ukraine and Russia, which far exceeds the potential revenue from those countries, the Swiss pharmaceutical company said.
Roche also announced the opening of sites in other countries and the recruitment of new patients at existing sites.
While trials in Ukraine were massively disrupted by the war, no new participants are being recruited in Russia following the invasion of Ukraine. Russia describes its actions in Ukraine as a “special military operation”.
Eastern Europe is an attractive testing location because the researchers who run the medical centers in the region are well trained. In addition, patients are strongly encouraged to volunteer to participate in trials, which often offer them the possibility of receiving better care than that offered by the local health system.
Other players in the sector also mentioned the low cost of studies.
Bill Anderson, added that the expected results of the MS trials would not be delayed, at least for this year.
Merck KGaA, Sanofi and Novartis are also involved in multiple sclerosis research.
(Report Ludwig Burger, French version Augustin Turpin, edited by Matthieu Protard)