NIH enrolling some patients despite shutdown
The government shutdown has forced NIH to stop enrolling new patients in clinical trials, but the agency told BioCentury it so far has made an exception for a dozen patients with life-threatening conditions. NIH is not enrolling new patients in trials unless they meet three criteria: the illness is imminently life threatening; the patient meets eligibility criteria for an existing protocol; and the protocol "offers some hope for an improved outcome." NIH said a team of doctors at its Clinical Center is determining on a case-by-case basis whether patients meet these criteria.
As of Tuesday, NIH said 12 new patients with life threatening conditions had been admitted to the Clinical Center since the shutdown started. Under normal circumstances, about 200 new patients are enrolled per week, according to the agency. ...