Russia's invasion of Ukraine is likely to impact millions of people, not just in the Eastern European nation but around the world as drug developers might face delays in clinical trials conducted in Kyiv and elsewhere.
One biotech, in particular, called out the geopolitical tensions as possible cause for concern. Karuna Therapeutics warned today that timelines for its second phase 3 study in schizophrenia, dubbed EMERGENT-3, are uncertain because 10 of the 19 trial sites are in Ukraine.
The study might not be needed for Karuna to file the drug, KarXT, for approval, according to RBC Capital Markets analysts. But, if the first phase 3 trial, EMERGENT-2, fails to meet its primary endpoint and produce safety data, Karuna could be in trouble. EMERGENT-3 is a "backup option," RBC wrote in a Thursday note.