Decentralized trial solutions provider Science 37 has published data that points toward a significant shift in the way clinical research is conducted. The report indicates more sponsors and contract research organizations (CROs) than ever before have their sites on scheduling a majority of agile, or hybrid, trials in 2022, with traditional site-based studies taking a back seat.
The report, which checked in with 127 senior clinical research executives in September and October 2021, finds nearly 80% of those polled indicate they intend to run agile clinical trials in the next 12 months, with only seven out of 10 planning to run any traditional site-based studies during that time period. By contrast, only about 59% indicated plans to run agile trials when asked a year ago.
David Coman, Science 37 CEO, said the march toward decentralized trials is notable, offering a number of advantages to various stakeholders.
“The power of increased decentralization is becoming undeniable as more sponsors benefit from faster enrollment, greater retention, and increased diversity,” Coman said. “Leveraging the Science 37 operating system, our customers are enabling much more agile clinical trial designs that realize these benefits while significantly reducing patient burden and delivering more universal access for patients and providers, anywhere.”
On top of indicating an increasing shift toward decentralized trial adoption, the survey also reveals a number of deeper details about how decentralized studies are being put to use across different therapeutic areas and study phases.
The findings include:
- Out of all the respondents, 46% anticipate running an oncology study utilizing DCT in the next year, compared to 35% for the previous year; this seems to make oncology the most prevalent DCT category.
- Oncology, CNS, rare diseases, and immunology are expected to see the biggest uptakes in DCT use.
- Responses point toward significant increases in decentralized activity across Phase II, III, and IV studies.
- Various components of trials should see notable increases in decentralized deployment, including eConsent, telemedicine, mobile nurses, and remote sites in a hybrid model.
- According to study respondents, the top three perceived benefits of DCT are better patient experience, better patient retention, and faster recruitment.
- The top three perceived DCT challenges are integrating traditional sites with DCT, lack of in-house capabilities, and regulatory concerns.
“Agile clinical trial” refers to trials that incorporate decentralized elements, giving patients the option of participating from home, at a site, or a combination of the two. According to Science 37, their operating system is geared toward enabling the flexibility such a configuration involves.
The company is offering the full report on its site, Science37.com.
