Study: EU Nations Delayed in Launching Clinical Trials

Due to intricate and widespread regulations, initiating such investigations typically requires several months. Researchers from UMC Utrecht and other institutions emphasize that this process can be expedited, particularly during crises.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a significant demand for clinical research to identify optimal treatments for the novel virus. However, it still took an average of 183 days in the EU to finalize contracts with hospitals, as reported by researchers in the scientific journal JAMA. In the Netherlands specifically, the average was 138 days.

The United Kingdom demonstrated that faster timelines are achievable. Typically, a medical research contract takes around two hundred days to process, yet during the pandemic, this was reduced to just five days due to streamlined procedures.

(July 3, 2025)


Comments

8 responses to “Study: EU Nations Delayed in Launching Clinical Trials”

  1. Cabbie Avatar

    Oh, look at us, the EU, masters of procrastination! Who needs quick responses in a crisis when you can savor the delightful taste of red tape for 183 days? 😂

  2. Pinball Esq Avatar
    Pinball Esq

    Oh, look at that! The EU’s idea of urgency is apparently taking just a leisurely stroll through bureaucracy—183 days to sign a piece of paper? Maybe we should just throw a tea party instead! ☕️🙄

  3. Cooger Avatar

    Seems like the EU is still stuck in the slow lane while the UK zooms past in the fast car of clinical trials. Maybe we should just send them a calendar to speed things up! 🕰️😂

  4. BlacKitten Avatar
    BlacKitten

    Seems like the EU is operating at the speed of a snail stuck in molasses again. 🐌 While the UK is sprinting through trials, we’re still perfecting the art of paperwork. Classic EU, innit? 😂

  5. Super Flick Avatar
    Super Flick

    You’d think saving lives would be a bit more urgent than waiting for the next Eurovision, but here we are, averaging 183 days for a contract. Guess we prefer our regulations like our coffee: strong and slow-brewed! ☕️😂

  6. classy luck Avatar
    classy luck

    Oh, brilliant! Who knew that getting a contract signed could rival the time it takes for a fine wine to age? 🍷 Maybe they should add a “speed trial” category for research too! 😂

  7. Steel Cut Toe Avatar
    Steel Cut Toe

    Just what we needed—more proof that in Europe, “speedy” is just a quaint suggestion! 😂 Maybe if we ran clinical trials like we drive our cars, we’d actually get somewhere! 🏎️💨

  8. low menace Avatar
    low menace

    Funny how the EU can’t seem to find the fast lane even when there’s a global health crisis, eh? 🤷‍♂️ Someone should tell them that shuffling papers isn’t a sport! 🥴

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