Immuno-oncology continues to be an exciting frontier in the fight against cancer. Researchers continue to develop drugs that allow the body to weaponize its own immune system against the growth of new tumors. Most uses of immunotherapies have been limited to cancers, like those in the lungs or pancreas, that produce a strong immune response. In his article...
Understanding the obstacles inherent in Alzheimer’s clinical trials, from high screen failure rates to lengthy trial durations that are demanding for both patients and caregivers, can help sponsors plan for – and overcome – these challenges. Despite intensive research, nearly 15 years have passed since the lastnew Alzheimer’s disease medication was approved. For those living...
For hundreds of years, the medical community has known that the mere act of receiving treatment, even if it’s just a sugar pill, can improve a patient’s symptoms. Therefore, in order to ensure that the effects of an experimental treatment are real, most randomized controlled trials (RCTs) include a placebo arm. Placebos are most often...
Experts describing recent advances in drug development often drift into hyperbole — but really, can you blame them? Gene therapies and drugs that weaponize the immune system against tumor cells are among recent breakthroughs that were unthinkable even a decade ago. But therapies for central nervous system disorders have been a stubborn exception. “We recognize...
Forecasting the cost of clinical drug and medical device trials has never been easy, and as trials become more complex, estimating (and re-estimating) these costs becomes even more challenging. Lack of accurate forecasts has serious schedule and cost implications. By impeding effective cash management, inaccurate projections can lead to disruptions and delays that cost sponsors...
After years in development, the final version of the Medical Device/In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Device Regulations was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on May 5, 2017. These regulations superseded the previous Directives for the European market and will be implemented over the next few years. In our last post, we went over...
The regulatory landscape for medical devices in Europe is undergoing some major changes. Published in May 2017, the new European Medical Device Regulation (MDR) (Regulation [EU] 2017/745) and In Vitro Diagnostics Regulation (IVDR) (Regulation [EU] 2017/746) is gradually replacing the Medical Devices Directive and the Implantable Medical Devices Directive in the European market. Although the...
Fibromyalgia is a chronic, complex pain condition characterized by widespread pain and a diverse range of symptomatic manifestations, including fatigue, sleep disturbance, dyscognition, diminished physical functioning, and mood disturbances. To date, patient-reported outcomes remain the best method for characterizing the many facets of fibromyalgia. Patient-reported outcomes are gaining traction as a highly effective option for...
Treating the chronic pain experienced by patients with osteoarthritis is among the most enduring challenges in analgesic drug development. Operationalizing trials for osteoarthritis of the knee requires careful consideration of study design, strategies for mitigating placebo response, and site selection. Osteoarthritis, sometimes called degenerative joint disease or degenerative arthritis, occurs when the protective cartilage on...
Concern over cybersecurity touches our lives in new ways almost daily. Today, there is growing concern over millions of people who use connected medical devices that use off-the-shelf software. Here are six things the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health wants you to know about the safety of networked medical devices: 1. Hacking of...