In today's ACT Brief, we examine how AI enables sponsors to pressure-test protocols before enrollment, HHS's multi-initiative effort to accelerate trial design and execution, and FDA approval expanding heart disease therapy to adolescents.
News|Podcasts|December 17, 2025
ACT Brief: Patient Preferences in Remote Trials, Sanofi’s Neurology and Immunology Deals, and AI-Driven Biomarkers in Oncology
Author(s)Andy Studna, Senior Editor
In today’s ACT Brief, we examine new survey data revealing what patients value most in remote clinical trials, break down Sanofi’s latest partnerships aimed at advancing Alzheimer’s and autoimmune therapies, and look at how AI-powered digital pathology is being integrated into oncology research through a new biopharma collaboration.
This is the Applied Clinical Trials Brief—your fast track to the latest insights shaping clinical operations and drug development.
- New survey data featured in an ACT contributed
article show that patients overwhelmingly prefer fully remote clinical trials, with convenience, intuitive technology, and ongoing support emerging as the strongest drivers of participation and retention. The findings underscore how decentralized models, supported by FDA-cleared digital tools and live technical assistance, are reshaping enrollment strategies and pushing sponsors to design trials that feel as seamless as everyday consumer technology. - Sanofi has
announced two major deals aimed at strengthening its neurology and immunology pipelines, including an exclusive global license with ADEL for the Alzheimer’s candidate ADEL-Y01 and an expanded collaboration with Dren Bio focused on next-generation B-cell depletion therapies. Together, the agreements highlight Sanofi’s growing reliance on external innovation to advance early-stage assets while positioning the company to scale development and commercialization across complex disease areas. - And Lunit has entered a
collaboration with Daiichi Sankyo to integrate AI-powered digital pathology tools into oncology translational research, supporting biomarker discovery and patient stratification across multiple pipeline programs. By embedding AI-driven image analysis earlier in development, the partnership reflects a broader industry shift toward data-rich trial designs that aim to improve efficiency and better match patients to targeted therapies.
That’s all for today’s ACT Brief. Join us tomorrow for more updates shaping clinical operations and drug development. Thanks for listening.
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