In our The State of Pharma series, HealthLink Dimensions has reported about trends shaping the pharmaceutical industry in the COVID-19 era. In this post, we examine how clinical trials were different due to the rapid pace of development for the COVID-19 vaccine, what it means for the future of clinical trials, and how pharma brands can effectively provide critical communication to
develop brand credibility and trust among patients.
As efforts to administer the new COVID-19 vaccines are underway, pharma companies are facing new challenges as their brand trust is being questioned. Since the vaccine was tested in clinical trials and approved so quickly, many skeptics are lacking confidence in the vaccine, with only 60% of Americans saying that they will receive it. Others are left wondering why pharma brands were able to develop the COVID-19 vaccine in under a year but have been unsuccessful in finding one for HIV, cancer, and other life-threatening conditions and diseases.
There’s no doubt that the pandemic has changed the process of clinical trials and the future of vaccine development for pharma companies. Here are a few ways that clinical trials are going to change due to the process development of the COVID-19 vaccine and how pharma brands can effectively market themselves to establish and maintain consumer trust:
Provide proper instructions
As 80% of non-COVID clinical trials were paused or experienced interruption due to the pandemic, clinical trial sites had to adapt to new trends in order to resume. Many moved toward “decentralized” clinical trials, or DCTs, in order to continue operation, meaning utilizing telemedicine and virtual monitoring of participants. At the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, only 40% of active clinical trials were embracing a DCT model, which increased to 64% during the pandemic. With the clinical trials market expected to reach $10 billion by 2026, a growth of 6.5% annually, pharma companies are expected to continue to partner with clinical researchers and embrace virtual interaction utilizing technology like apps, social media, and remote monitoring tools.
Emphasis on diversity
Diversity in clinical trials has always been important because varying races can experience differing symptoms, reactions, and effectiveness to vaccines and medications. But with the plethora of misinformation being shared online and via social media surrounding the COVID-19 vaccine, it’s important for pharma brands to work with healthcare providers to establish trust among minorities so that participation in future clinical trials from minorities will continue.
Importance of communication
For pharma companies, it’s imperative to continue to work with healthcare providers to deliver accurate, trusted information about clinical trials and vaccine development for not only the COVID-19 vaccine, but in the future. That’s how using real-world validated healthcare provider data from HealthLink Dimensions can help.
Get in touch with HealthLink Dimensions
HealthLink Dimensions’ mission has always been to help pharma brands distribute critical information to healthcare providers and make pharma marketing easier. Historically, 11 out of the top 15 pharma companies have partnered with us to do just that. If you are a pharma brand looking to get your message in front of the right healthcare providers using the largest healthcare provider database certified by BPA Worldwide, fill out the form or contact us!