Recording Now Available: CTTI’s New Robust Set of Resources to Assist with Designing and Running Master Protocols

recording is now available of the public webinar held on Tues., Oct. 13, to launch CTTI’s new set of resources that can be used to collaborate, communicate, and design master protocol studies. The webinar was led by Abby Bronson, Edgewise Therapeutics; Marianne Chase, Massachusetts General Hospital; Daniel Millar, Janssen R&D; and Nick Richardson, FDA, CDER.

While the interest in master protocol studies is growing, many organizations—particularly non-traditional drug developers such as patient advocacy groups and other nonprofits—lack the experience to design and implement this kind of study. In response to these challenges, through a high-level landscape review, a series of expert meetings, and a public open comment opportunity, CTTI developed a set of resources that include frameworks, case studies, and other interactive materials to assist in the planning and development of master protocols.

“With the success of master protocols in COVID-19 trials, there’s never been a better time to rethink the way you’re doing clinical trials in other disease areas,” said Pamela Tenaerts, executive director at CTTI. “In many cases, a well-designed and well-planned master protocol approach is an ideal way to get answers to scientific questions faster and serve patients better. Our new set of resources give sponsors, non-profit groups, and others a starting point and pathway for designing and conducting a successful master protocol study from start to finish in your disease area.”

The specific resources that CTTI released in conjunction with this webinar include:

  • Value Proposition Guide: outlines key considerations for presenting the value proposition of the master protocol to stakeholders such as collaborators and vendors
  • Study Simulation Tool: provides an overview of key modules that should be simulated in order to optimize master protocol design
  • Protocol Development Map: describes the unique aspects of developing a master protocol from the academic or nonprofit organization perspective
  • Operations Partner Assessment Tool: outlines considerations for engaging and selecting vendors as partners in master protocols
  • FDA Engagement Tool: describes the formal mechanisms that facilitate early interaction with the FDA and provides a general timeline for development of an FDA engagement strategy

Both the webinar and latest resources can be found on the CTTI website.

CTTI Paper Features Tool to Help Sponsors and Patient Groups Identify Mutually Beneficial Opportunities for Collaboration

Effective engagement between patient groups and research sponsors can enhance the quality and efficiency of clinical trials, improve patient recruitment and retention, reduce costs, and speed the pathway toward new medical treatments. One opportunity for sponsors is to identify and prioritize new effective engagement activities. A new manuscript in Therapeutic Innovation & Regulatory Science details CTTI’s evidence-based prioritization tool to help sponsors and patient groups pinpoint mutually beneficial engagement activities.

The web-based tool provides 24 unique engagement activities that span the medical product development lifecycle. Using a three-step decision-making process, the tool helps sponsors and patient groups define the expectations, goals, and important roles that will have the biggest impact on the design, conduct, and dissemination of clinical research. The findings help teams apply CTTI’s recommendations for effective patient group engagement by supplying the results in an easy-to-use visual priority matrix grid.

Read the full manuscript.

Report Now Available: Stakeholder Engagement on ICH E6 Guideline for Good Clinical Practice

The summary report of the web conference on “Stakeholder Engagement on ICH E6 Guidance for Good Clinical Practice,” organized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in collaboration with the Clinical Trials Transformation Initiative (CTTI), is now available. The two-day Pan-American web conference was held June 4-5 with more than 1300 attendees worldwide.

The report provides an overview of the presentations from a diverse group of participants, including academic researchers, human subject protection and ethics experts, as well as patients. Members of the ICH Expert Working Group (EWG), which is tasked with updating the ICH E6 guideline, provided an overview of their approach to ensuring that the guideline is responsive to the needs of the community and that it facilitates advances in clinical trial design and conduct. The report also outlines key themes from the web conference’s line-up of stakeholders who shared their experiences with ICH E6(R2).  Further, the report also incorporates comments and input from web-conference attendees that were received via email or verbally during the web conference.

Check out the recording and the slide decks for each day of the web conference to learn more from the presenters.

For additional information on the ICH E6 revision efforts, please refer to the following materials: