Woodcock Warns Research Apparatus Could Be Overwhelmed If Coronavirus Trials Don’t Use Master Protocols

CDER Director Janet Woodcock says researchers need to embrace pragmatic trial designs and compare multiple treatments at the same time rather than employ separate development programs.

Coronavirus globe
CDER Director Janet Woodcock said master protocols could help assess repurposed drugs faster. • Source: Shutterstock

Sponsors soon may have no choice but to develop master protocols and similar trial designs for coronavirus treatments, as there now are concerns there may not be enough researchers to handle the workload.

Janet Woodcock, director of the US Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said on 23 April...

Pink Sheet Podcast

Learn what's happening at the US FDA. On the go.

Derrick Gingery and the team bring you a weekly "Drug Fix".

More from Clinical Trials

Canada Cuts Red Tape With Single Ethics Review For Trials

A new research ethics review system for multi-site clinical trials in Canada is expected to help improve study start-up times, avoid unnecessary duplication and boost the country’s competitiveness on a global stage.

Diversity Action Plans: What To Submit And When

 
• By 

With the deadline for comments on the US FDA’s draft guidance less than a month away, the Pink Sheet offers an infographic outlining what the agency is expecting in diversity action plans and when that might be implemented.

India Tightens Oversight Of CROs With Mandatory Registration

 
• By 

Contract research organizations (CROs) in India must gear up to comply with new registration requirements coming into effect in April 2025 that aim to enhance the quality and integrity of clinical trials, as well as of any bioavailability and bioequivalence studies conducted by them.

More from R&D

Diversity Action Plans: What To Submit And When

 
• By 

With the deadline for comments on the US FDA’s draft guidance less than a month away, the Pink Sheet offers an infographic outlining what the agency is expecting in diversity action plans and when that might be implemented.

India Tightens Oversight Of CROs With Mandatory Registration

 
• By 

Contract research organizations (CROs) in India must gear up to comply with new registration requirements coming into effect in April 2025 that aim to enhance the quality and integrity of clinical trials, as well as of any bioavailability and bioequivalence studies conducted by them.

Clinical Trial Diversity Action Plans Need Timely FDA Feedback, Groups Say

 
• By 

The agency also should explain the potential consequences for sponsors if enrollment goals are not met, stakeholders say in comments on the DAP draft guidance. Some commenters urged the FDA to apply waiver criteria flexibly, especially for rare diseases.