Markel launches travel product for rare-disease clinical trial participants

Markel has launched a new travel insurance product aimed at bolstering international participation in rare-disease clinical trials.

The insurer said that its new Participant Travel Reimbursement product is designed to be “purchased by trial sponsors and reimburses eligible travel-related expenses incurred in connection with approved participant travel”.

Markel said the product was conceived following feedback from life science companies and brokers, which had been seeking additional ways to support those who needed to travel internationally to take part in rare-disease clinical trials.

It added that because rare-disease populations are often dispersed across the world, international travel to trials is common and traditional travel insurance may not be suitable for such pre-existing conditions.

Additionally, research from clinical trial technology company Suvoda suggested that some 57% of prospective participants find financial barriers “very important” when considering whether to join trials, while 30% to 55% of trials are terminated early due to low participation.

The policy addition can be purchased by life science firms through their insurance brokers, with benefits payable to the life sciences firms rather than trial participants. Eligible participants will also gain access to 24-hour assistance from healthcare services provider Healix.

Cost and complexity

Robert Hannaford, senior life science underwriter at Markel International, said: “People living with a rare disease may need to travel considerable distances to access specialist clinical trials. In rare-disease research, eligible participants and specialist trial sites are not always in the same country.

“For some participants, travelling internationally to take part in a trial can involve additional cost and complexity.

“This enhancement is designed to help trial sponsors support eligible participants who need to make those journeys by reimbursing eligible travel-related expenses and providing access to assistance services while travelling, subject to policy terms and conditions.”