Remote Tools Keep Japan’s Research Moving

Japan, the world’s third largest pharmaceutical market, has long been engaged in clinical research in every therapeutic area. “COVID-19 totally changed the world. The remote connection is the only way for the CRAs and the sites to communicate and work together, so both the sponsors and the sites started using remote communication or remote monitoring gradually,” explains Eri Sekine, Region Head of Trial Monitoring Japan, Global Development Operations, Novartis Pharma KK, Japan. “So now it's the time to consider how to utilize modern technologies in clinical trials. I think, based on our experience, that people will start thinking more aggressively about digitalization, digital solutions, to make clinical trials easier for sites, sponsors, and for patients.”