In an alarming state of affairs, thousands of participants involved in clinical trials for experimental drugs and devices are reportedly left stranded as stop-work orders were issued resulting in researchers unable to monitor side-effects or provide care. This unforeseen situation has happened due to the government’s underfunding, IT issues, and overwhelming backlog, ending up jeopardizing the progress of potential life-saving treatments as well as the health and safety of the volunteers.
The stop-work orders, issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), are said to incapacitate nearly 1200 biomedical studies funded by the National Institutes of Health. These halted trials that could potentially treat or cure life-threatening illnesses, ultimately obstruct the path of medical advancement and innovatory treatments. The article calls to attention that the lack of continued monitoring could give way to dangerous or adverse reactions in patients using experimental treatments with no pattern of recourse. While all parties mingle in the race against time, the worst affected are the volunteers who have invested their trust, hope, and quite literally, their lives into these trials.
