Although there continues to be an increase in Covid-19 cases and deaths all around the world, the increase in 2023 is much slower compared to previous years. The year-on-year increase of confirmed cases, active cases, and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was far lower than from 2021 to 2022. This was especially true of the number of deaths, which increased by only 22%, down from 181% over the previous period. Although these statistics have decreased over time, there have been lasting effects from the pandemic such as long Covid.
Long Covid, also known as post-acute sequelae of Covid-19 (PASC), refers to the persistent symptoms and effects that happen after the subject contracted Covid-19. Some of the most common symptoms are shortness of breath and loss of smell/taste. According to GlobalData’s Clinical Trials Database, 2023 will be the year with the most long Covid clinical trials to date (Figure 1, above). As of April 12, 2023, there has been an average of 9.3 trials per month for 2023; In 2022, there was an average of 4.6 trials per month and in 2021 saw 5.5 trials per month.
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There are over 75 upcoming trial events for long Covid (Figure 2, below). Most are Phase II trial completions, followed by Phase III trial completions and then Phase II trial initiations. Currently, GlobalData expects a total of 45 events to happen in 2023 and 23 in 2024.
