Why participation in an international clinical trial platform matters during a pandemic? Launching REMAP-CAP in Japan

Kamata, Kazuhiro; Jindai, Kazuaki; Ichihara, Nao; Saito, Hiroki; Kato, Hideaki; Kunishima, Hiroyuki; Shintani, Ayumi; Nishida, Osamu; Fujitani, Shigeki

REMAP-CAP, a randomized, embedded, multifactorial adaptive platform trial for community-acquired pneumonia, is an international clinical trial that is rapidly expanding its scope and scale in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Japan is now joining REMAP-CAP with endorsement from Japanese academic societies. Commitment to REMAP-CAP can significantly contribute to population health through timely identification of optimal COVID-19 therapeutics. Additionally, it will promote the establishment of a national and global network of clinical trials to tackle future pandemics of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, in collaboration with multiple stakeholders, including front-line healthcare workers, governmental agencies, regulatory authorities, and academic societies.