Since the early months of 2020, Roche, alongside our partners, has been monitoring the global spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and is working closely with healthcare providers and patient communities to better understand the impact of this pandemic on patients and their families who are part of our clinical studies.
We understand that, as individuals living with a medical condition, you are likely facing a higher level of uncertainty and anxiety during this pandemic. We want to reinforce that patient safety is a critical priority for Roche. We recognise that you may have questions about your continued participation in our study and how we, as a company, plan to support you during this time.
As you are aware, we are living through an unprecedented time in our history as a society and the COVID-19 pandemic is now impacting our clinical studies in nearly all regions of the world. We are collaborating with regulatory authorities in all countries (a group that monitors clinical trials) to ensure that we are doing everything we can to safeguard and protect your health.
We are also working closely with our trial sites, study physicians (investigators) and their teams to find new and flexible ways to safely and comfortably enable your continued participation in our studies.
Since countries across the globe are in different phases of the COVID-19 management and response, we appreciate that you may be concerned about leaving your home. Due to many countries invoking travel restrictions, city lockdowns, as well as social distancing requirements, or you may not be able to leave your home to visit a clinic or hospital for a study appointment. We are also aware that many of our study sites are implementing responses that aim to manage the growing strain on hospital and clinic resources, intensive care unit beds, etc. and the well-being of their staff.
If you are facing challenges, or have concerns about topics related to our studies, we encourage you to discuss these openly with your healthcare team (study coordinator, study nurse, study physician) who are dedicated to supporting you. Patient advocacy groups are a good resource for educational information about your medical condition and emotional support. It is also important to speak to your doctor and abide by any additional guidance that may be issued by your local health authority.
We thank you for your commitment to scientific research and hope to continue providing you the best care we can through our studies. We will continue to update you on any changes that may impact our studies.