ACT Brief: Regional Risk Variability Emerges, Patient Experience Drives Retention, and Digital Endpoints Scale in Oncology

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

• In a new contributed article, ACT EAB member Sylviane de Viron of CluePoints analyzes data from 585 trials across more than 56,000 sites to assess regional variation in central monitoring risk indicators. The study found geography—not study phase or therapeutic area—was the primary driver of variability, with metrics such as protocol deviations and serious adverse event rates differing significantly by region. The findings point to the need for region-specific risk planning while reinforcing that global participation must be supported through adaptive oversight strategies.
• In a video interview at the 2026 SCOPE Summit, Miriam Dervan, founder and CEO of mdgroup, said treating patient experience as a strategic investment can directly influence recruitment and retention. She emphasized listening to individual patient needs and engaging advocacy groups early in protocol planning to reduce avoidable dropouts. Dervan added that sponsors who prioritize empathy and flexibility are better positioned to sustain long-term engagement.
• Also at SCOPE, Jeremy Wyatt, CEO of Ametris, outlined how digital endpoints and wearables are strengthening oncology trial design through continuous real-world data collection. He noted that remote data capture can reduce site visits and improve statistical power, potentially lowering sample size requirements. Wyatt stressed that early collaboration with regulators is essential to establish validation standards and support broader adoption across development programs.

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