The Asia-Pacific’s largest specialist biotech CRO Novotech said biotech companies are currently initiating more clinical trials in Asia and Australia/New Zealand than in North America. The number of clinical trials initiated by biotechnology companies in Asia-Pacific since the beginning of March is about 10% higher than in the United States according to GlobalData. While the number for Phase 1 trials initiated in Asia-Pacific is twice that of North America, showing a clear willingness by sponsors to find alternative locations for clinical trials during the American slowdown.

Biotechnology sponsors are attracted to the region because sites have adapted well to the situation and are able to ensure clinical studies continuity. While Asia-Pacific is a key destination for COVID-19 trials, many sites and investigators are ensuring trial activity across all therapeutic areas, including oncology, metabolic disease and rare diseases.

Biotech Clinical Trial Continuity 

There is high demand from biotechnology sponsors for studies in the Asia-Pacific region because of the speed and quality available here. Many biotech sponsors are now very familiar with the benefits of running clinical trials in Asia and Australia/New Zealand. While other sponsors are coming to the region because they were impressed with how efficiently sites have adapted to the new global situation.

Although the situation is rapidly evolving, countries across Asia-Pacific have showed low infection rates, high testing rates and low mortality compared to Western locations. Ethics and regulatory systems are operational in many locations, while remote monitoring is widely accepted. Private laboratories continue to support clinical trial activities.

A majority of sites continue to be very interested in new studies and recruitment continues especially in private sites.

South Korea in particular has handled the epidemic with one of the world’s most efficient and fast responses to reduce the virus spread. South Korea is known for some of the largest hospitals in the world which are also highly active in biotech clinical research. The number of hospital beds in South Korea is well over average and is about four times higher than the United States.

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