SCOPE 2023: Challenges of Clinical Trials

Peter Ronco, CEO, Emmes, shares his long-term vision for artificial intelligence in clinical research, from making automation routine to improving drug discovery, transforming regulatory oversight, reducing animal testing, and promoting ethical, equitable data use worldwide.

Interim results from the global MATTERHORN study mark the first time an immunotherapy has demonstrated statistically significant event-free survival in a Phase III trial for resectable gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancers, signaling a potential shift in standard perioperative care.

In the Phase III IMforte trial, Tecentriq (atezolizumab) and Zepzelca (lurbinectedin) reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 46% as a first-line maintenance therapy for patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer.

Phase III data presented at ASCO 2025 and published in The New England Journal of Medicine show that Pfizer’s Braftovi (encorafenib), combined with Erbitux (cetuximab) and mFOLFOX6, significantly improves overall survival and progression-free survival in treatment-naïve patients with BRAF V600E-mutant metastatic colorectal cancer—potentially establishing a new first-line standard-of-care for this high-risk population.

In the DESTINY-Breast09 study, Enhertu (fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki) plus pertuzumab reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 44% in patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer.

In an interview with ACT senior editor Andy Studna at SCOPE Summit, Ashley Davidson, vice president, product lead - sponsor tech strategy, Advarra, highlights the need for more site-centric approaches in study startup.