ACT Brief: Bayesian Approaches Expand, Patient Foundations Merge, and AI Transforms Clinical Trials

This is the Applied Clinical Trials Brief—your fast track to the latest insights shaping clinical operations and drug development.

• In a new video interview, David Morton, PhD, director of biostatistics at Certara, explained how FDA support for Bayesian trial designs is reducing regulatory uncertainty and encouraging sponsors to adopt these approaches earlier in study planning. By borrowing external data and leveraging existing evidence, Bayesian methods can decrease sample size needs, improve trial efficiency, and allow more flexible, innovative study designs.
• The Patient Advocate Foundation and PAN Foundation have merged to form the nation’s largest nonprofit dedicated to helping patients navigate care, including clinical trial participation. Operating under the Patient Advocate Foundation name, the organization will consolidate financial assistance, case management, and trial navigation into a single platform. Leaders note the merger improves access for underrepresented populations and supports patients in overcoming cost, travel, and logistical barriers to trial enrollment.
• A new Pharm Exec article highlights how life sciences companies are using machine learning to transform trial design. Moving beyond single-use models, organizations are building multi-purpose “TreeBanks” and interpretable AI frameworks that integrate genomic, imaging, and clinical data. This approach allows for smaller, more efficient clinical trials, clearer mechanistic insight, and accelerated drug development while maintaining regulatory confidence and patient safety.

That’s all for today’s ACT Brief. Join us tomorrow for more updates shaping clinical operations and drug development. Thanks for listening.