COVID-19 Patient-Trial connection site launched 

Covance, the drug development business of LabCorp, has created COVID-19 Clinical Trial Connect in the U.S., a site designed to help people access information about how to participate in COVID-19 research.

Trial opportunities related to COVID-19 are diverse, with sponsors recruiting patients who currently have the virus, those who may now be recovered, and those who may have been exposed to coronavirus. Through the COVID-19 Clinical Trial Connect site, prospective patients would be notified of studies run by Covance on behalf of a biopharmaceutical sponsor, as well as those listed in clinicaltrials.gov. People visiting the site will be invited to opt-in to register their details. This information will be used to connect people with suitable clinical studies in their area. If a study is unavailable in their area at the present time, prospective participants will have the option to be contacted when one becomes available. 

Filling COVID information gap

Tabula Rasa HealthCare Corporation, a medication safety technology company, has unveiled its TRHC COVID-19 Treatment and Therapy Digital Resource. Developed by TRHC’s Precision Pharmacotherapy Research & Development Institute, the resource provides a comprehensive analysis and clinical reviews of the numerous potential treatments and therapies being studied around the globe for the novel coronavirus.

It includes an in-depth review of each medication’s mode of action (MoA), dosing guidelines, and clinical trial information. The resource describes the various adverse drug events (ADEs) and the monitoring parameters for possible adverse reactions to the treatments and is regularly updated with the latest clinical development information and journal articles.

Program to support scientists

To accelerate the development of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines, medicines, and other treatments, the U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) has launched a new program to support scientists, developers, and manufacturers worldwide. In response to overwhelming demand, with thousands of downloads of select COVID-related USP standards made available in March, Trust Accelerated offers expanded access to free USP technical expertise and resources to support an efficient path for regulatory predictability. 

Pfizer to funnel $500M into biotechs

Pfizer has established the Pfizer Breakthrough Growth Initiative, through which the company will invest up to $500 million in non-controlling equity investments in clinical-stage public companies. The primary focus will be on those with small- to medium-sized market capitalizations across a range of therapeutic categories that are consistent with Pfizer’s core areas of focus: internal medicine, inflammation and immunology, oncology, rare disease, vaccines, and hospital.

- Staff and wire reports