Andy Studna, Senior Editor

In this video interview, Caroline Potts, general manager of sites and patient services at Medical Research Network (MRN), discusses the challenges of achieving true operational flexibility in clinical trials—highlighting how SOPs, staffing, and budget constraints often limit site adaptability and contribute to staff burnout.

The FDA has awarded Breakthrough Therapy Designation to izalontamab brengitecan, a potential first-in-class bispecific antibody-drug conjugate, for patients with EGFR-mutated advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer who progressed after EGFR TKI and platinum chemotherapy, based on data from multiple clinical trials.

In this episode of the Applied Clinical Trials Brief, we recap our three most-viewed articles of the week—featuring updated cost estimates for trial delays, the benefits of a hybrid approach to site payments, and strategies for keeping complex protocols on track.

In the Phase II STARLIGHT trial, MCO-010 gene therapy improved visual acuity in Stargardt disease patients, with some achieving early and sustained gains and no serious adverse events, paving the way for a Phase III study.

In this video interview, Meri Beckwith, Co-CEO of Lindus Health, shares practical ways clinical teams can strengthen trial protocols for expedited programs—such as incorporating control groups where possible, leveraging synthetic and real-world data, and adopting adaptive trial designs to reduce regulatory risk.

In this randomized, double-blind trial, Aligos Therapeutics is evaluating its investigational oral capsid assembly modulator ALG-000184 against tenofovir disoproxil fumarate in 200 treatment-naïve patients with chronic HBV infection, with interim results expected in 2026 and topline data in 2027.

In this Q&A, Rohit Nambisan, CEO of Lokavant, and Jonathan Crowther, head of predictive analytics, Pfizer, explore how AI is transforming study feasibility, regulatory review, and trial execution.

In this video interview, Meri Beckwith, Co-CEO of Lindus Health, discusses whether recent trial design rejections signal a broader shift in FDA expectations or simply reflect changes in individual reviewers, emphasizing that current unpredictability may be more situational than systemic.

In this episode of the Applied Clinical Trials Brief, we spotlight a recent video interview with Luke Wilson of Thermo Fisher Scientific in which he shared insights on how data visibility, remote monitoring, and integrated systems can streamline inspections, improve patient safety, and keep decentralized trials compliant and on track.

In this video interview, Meri Beckwith, Co-CEO of Lindus Health, explains why sponsors pursuing breakthrough or priority review designations must maintain rigorous trial design while building organizational agility.

In the Phase III VAYHIT2 trial, ianalumab combined with eltrombopag significantly prolonged time to treatment failure and improved sustained platelet counts in patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia previously treated with corticosteroids, with a safety profile consistent with prior findings.

In this Phase III trial, the Padcev-Keytruda combination used as both neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapy significantly improved event-free and overall survival, as well as pathologic complete response, compared to surgery alone in cisplatin-ineligible patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

In this video interview, Meri Beckwith, Co-CEO of Lindus Health, discusses recent Complete Response Letters issued to Replimune and Capricor, explaining how shifts in FDA reviewers can affect single-arm trial acceptance, especially in oncology settings where control groups may be deemed unethical.

In this episode of the Applied Clinical Trials Brief, we recap our three most-viewed stories of the previous week with a look into the FDA’s heightened scrutiny of trial design, the wind-down of federal mRNA vaccine programs, and how digital innovation is reshaping the clinical research landscape.

In this video interview, Meri Beckwith, Co-CEO of Lindus Health, examines how recent developments with Complete Response Letters have shifted industry perceptions of FDA breakthrough designation—highlighting that it offers faster review timelines and investor visibility, but not a higher likelihood of final approval.

In the Phase III ENVISION trial, Zusduri achieved a 24-month duration of response rate of 72.2% among patients with a complete response at three months, reinforcing its potential as a durable treatment option for adults with recurrent low-grade intermediate-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.

In this video interview, Luke Wilson, senior director, biotech, pharma services at Thermo Fisher Scientific, shares key strategies for maintaining operational alignment and compliance in decentralized trials including unified data platforms, aligned SOPs, and clear governance and escalation pathways between sponsors and supply chain partners.

In the Phase III TRIUMpH program, tegoprazan met primary endpoints and outperformed lansoprazole in maintaining healing of erosive esophagitis over 24 weeks, including in patients with the most severe disease.

In this video interview, Luke Wilson, senior director, biotech, pharma services at Thermo Fisher Scientific, outlines the key barriers to real-time oversight in clinical trials and explains how integrated systems, built-in analytics, and live dashboards can empower clinops leaders to make faster, better-informed decisions.

Following positive Phase IIb TACTI-003 data, the FDA has endorsed further evaluation of Immutep’s efti-Keytruda combination in first-line recurrent/metastatic HNSCC patients with PD-L1 CPS <1, a population with few chemotherapy-free treatment options.

The US Department of Health and Human Services has terminated 22 mRNA vaccine research contracts under BARDA, signaling a shift toward alternative vaccine platforms and potentially more stringent oversight of trial design and funding.

In this video interview, Luke Wilson, senior director, biotech, pharma services at Thermo Fisher Scientific, discusses how integrated systems and data transparency enable sponsors to meet evolving regulatory expectations and streamline FDA inspections through enhanced operational readiness.

In this video interview, Luke Wilson, senior director, biotech, pharma services at Thermo Fisher Scientific, explains how clinical operations teams can use remote monitoring and connected technologies to reduce site burden, respond faster to emerging data, and improve both patient safety and trial outcomes.

Based on positive Phase II TRANSCEND FL data showing a 95.5% overall response rate, the FDA has accepted Bristol Myers Squibb’s sBLA for Breyanzi in relapsed or refractory MZL with a PDUFA date set for December 5, 2025.

In this video interview, Luke Wilson, senior director, biotech, pharma services at Thermo Fisher Scientific, discusses how real-time data access is helping biotechs accelerate trial timelines, ensure patient safety, and gain greater oversight—especially through integrated CDMO and CRO partnerships.

New results from the Phase III Portal extension study show that Susvimo maintained vision and disease control over five years in neovascular AMD, with 95% of patients requiring no supplemental treatment between six-month refill intervals.

In the BOHEMIA study, once-monthly ivermectin over 3 months significantly reduced malaria incidence versus albendazole in children aged 5 to 15 years, supporting its role as a novel vector-control tool amid rising insecticide resistance.

In a pre-specified sub-study of the BROADWAY trial, obicetrapib 10 mg significantly reduced plasma p-tau217 levels in patients with ASCVD, including ApoE4 carriers, suggesting dual potential to lower LDL-C and impact Alzheimer’s disease progression.

In this video interview, Michael Miller, chief operating officer at Quanterix, discusses how biopharma companies—especially smaller biotechs—can leverage platform trials and biomarker-driven accelerated approvals to remain efficient and competitive amid shifting public-private funding dynamics.

In the ongoing Phase II CRDF-004 trial, onvansertib plus standard-of-care showed a 49% confirmed ORR and early PFS benefit in first-line RAS-mutated metastatic colorectal cancer, with a favorable safety profile and dose-dependent efficacy across endpoints.