The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), the trade association for over 120 UK companies producing human prescription medicines, has stated that the COVID-19 pandemic badly hit enrolment into clinical trials for drugs to treat cancer, heart disease and other conditions, Reuters news agency reported on Wednesday.

The ABPI reports indicate that in May 2020, overall clinical trial enrolment was down 84%, as compared to the prior year, with oncology - the majority of the UK's research portfolio - down 88%.

Enrolment in oncology commercial studies recovered to exceed 2019 levels for one month in October 2020, but subsequent COVID-19 lockdowns mean it fell back below 2019 levels and remains there.

Also, cardio-metabolic studies saw enrolment fall once more after a brief recovery in late 2020.

According to the report, while UK initiated the most COVID-19 trials in Europe, its total enrolment levels fell furthest in the continent in 2020 and its recovery lags the likes of Italy and Spain.

The report's recommendations included reforms to streamline the approval of new trials and more work to embed clinical research into healthcare.