Blog

Clinical Research: Phase 1 - Phase 4

In Silico Modeling Unveils a New Era in Rare Disease Drug Development

Progress in advanced computational methods using modeling and simulation has been enabled by advancements in computing technologies and the rise of artificial intelligence and machine learning. This has opened new opportunities in pharmaceutical drug development, such as the ability to evaluate large complex databases and to integrate information in useful ways. One exciting application of...

Beyond Boundaries: Revolutionary CAR-T Therapies Pave Way to Conquer Solid Tumors

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is becoming an increasingly important part of the cancer treatment landscape, with a growing number of clinical trials investigating its use across a range of cancer types. To date, the FDA has approved six CAR T-cell therapies, all for hematological malignancies and all primarily used as treatments for patients...

To Placebo or Not to Placebo? The Great Debate in Rare Disease Trials

Small patient populations. Geographic dispersion. Competing studies. Sound familiar? If you’re a sponsor of a rare disease study, you know all too well the challenges that come with recruiting patients. These challenges lead to immense pressure to design and implement studies that limit the burden of participation, while keeping patients engaged and generating high-quality data...

Realizing the Full Value of Patient Centricity in Rare Disease: 5 Ways to Maximize Your Engagement Efforts

As industry interest in rare diseases increases, so does competition within an already challenging clinical research environment where patient pools are inherently limited and often geographically dispersed. To differentiate their trials and inspire interest among patients and other key stakeholders, sponsors need to be proactive in demonstrating their commitment to addressing unmet therapeutic needs. Beyond...

At the Intersection of Rare Disease and Precision Medicine: A Road to Growth

Individually, rare diseases by definition have a low prevalence, but collectively, the societal burden and impact of these uncommon conditions is significant. The majority of rare diseases are genetic in origin, and advances in genomic sequencing tools and technologies have driven an increase in the identification of rare disorders. Currently, one out of every 10...

Rare Disease Patients as Partners: Value Beyond Enrollment

In 2020, the European Joint Programme for Rare Diseases developed a guide on patient partnerships in rare disease research projects. This guide still rings true today, and we summarize in this blog the key points for sponsors of rare disease studies to consider when engaging patients and their representatives in study planning. If you’re developing...

Charting the Path: How Patient and Caregiver Journeys Guide Rare Disease Study Design

It comes as no surprise that putting patients first is imperative for achieving success in rare disease development programs. However, to what extent can sponsors integrate patient input into their study design while still securing the high-quality data they need? Although a bit of a balancing act, it is possible to design a study that...

9 Tips for Designing and Operationalizing Early-Stage Precision Oncology Studies

Traditionally, early-stage clinical trials focus on toxicity assessment and dose selection. Today, a growing number of Phase 1/2a trials are designed to draw inference about preliminary response rates due, in part, to the use of biomarkers and adaptive design approaches that enhance the early detection of efficacy signals. These approaches may add to study complexity...

Can Your Protocol Flex? The Importance of Adaptive Trial Designs in Precision Oncology Studies

Cancer is one of the most scientifically complex and dynamic diseases. Even with significant advances in our understanding of the genetic and molecular mechanisms that lead to cancer, only 10 percent of approved oncology drugs demonstrate an overall survival benefit.1 In recent years, there has been a shift in how early-phase oncology studies are conducted...

The Rise of Radiotherapeutics: Brief History and Best Practices for Clinical Trials

Radiation therapy was first used to treat cancer more than a century ago, and nearly half of all cancer patients still receive it at some point during their treatment.1 Historically, most radiation therapy was given by delivering ionizing beams of radiation from outside the body, but with advances in the field of nuclear medicine, radionuclides...