International sponsors could refuse conducting clinical trials in Ukraine because of the tightening of tax legislation, as well as due to the inability to continue research in the occupied territories of the country, according to a press release from the European Business Association (EBA).

In particular, the EBA forecasts that the refusal of international sponsors to continue clinical trials in Ukraine might become one of the consequences of adopting the law on measures to stabilize the balance of payments in Ukraine, providing for the introduction of additional import duties of 5-10%.

In addition, the EBA said that currently the provisions of the Tax Code on the reduction of VAT rates for clinical trials from 20% to 7% are not valid.

"Against the background of such difficulties, additional import charges will inevitably become the last straw in the investors' decisions regarding the selection of other countries for their activities. It is clear that this will affect the most vulnerable seriously ill patients, who have no state support and obtain full treatment only through participation in clinical trials," the association stressed.