Bass, Berry & Sims attorney Clint Hermes edited an article for Health Law Connections outlining the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on clinical trials. The article was co-authored by attorneys Andrea Wever and Genevieve deLemos from deLemos and Weaver and former Bass, Berry & Sims attorney Neerja Razdan.

The authors claim the “Short-term impacts [COVID-19 had] on research include the large number of new sites participating in research, some with less experienced principal investigators (PIs) and staff; increased diversity of subjects; and rapid approval of study drugs as therapeutic options for care.” In addition, the authors report the “Long-term impacts on research resulting from the COVID-19 research that are likely to stay include a focus on diversity in enrollment, participation in clinical trials by less experienced sites, and the use of the FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) process.” In the article, the authors examine these impacts in greater detail.

The full article, “Introduction to COVID-19 Research’s Impact on Clinical Trials,” was published in the February 2022 issue of Health Law Connections, the monthly magazine produced by the American Health Law Association (AHLA).