Many elements of decentralised clinical trials (DCTs) have long been available – including mobile devices, remote monitoring, telemedicine, and home health providers – but the decision to run these types of trials was simply a matter of preference. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, travel bans and site closures have forced a rapid transition from physical clinical investigative sites to virtual environments. Graham Belgrave at Advanced Clinical focuses on learnings from the pandemic in Europe, including case studies of the successful use of virtual approaches to run more agile and adaptive trials. The author explores how these advances may shape the future of drug development in this region.