Transparency, RBM and Disruptive Innovation
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The organisers behind the Partnerships in Clinical Trials (PCT) Congress & Exhibition, which takes place this year on 5-6 November, have announced a stand-out conference programme which focuses on answering the key questions across three main themes:
- Transparency
- Risk Based Monitoring (RBM)
- Disruptive Innovation and the Future of Clinical Trials
Day one kicks off proceedings with an insightful keynote session that hears an expert panel discuss the future of clinical trials and make their predictions for 2024. GP and Broadcaster Phil Hammond interviews senior executives including Adrian Otte, VP Global Development Operations at Amgen, Jay Kaminski, Corporate Vice President, Global Clinical R&D at Celgene, and Anders Persson, Hub Director, Clinical Operations at AstraZeneca, as they investigate how transparency compliance will change the way trials are run; the impact of data mining and integration; new technologies and their applications; and the rise of social media and its influence.
Transparency is one of the most hotly debated topics in clinical trials right now with the EU approving a bill in April this year that saw an overwhelming majority of MEPs voting in favour of the public registration and reporting of clinical trials. At PCT 2014, delegates can gain a comprehensive perspective on how greater transparency will change the face of their industry.
Although transparency will be a theme throughout the conference, two sessions in particular will tackle the issue head on. On day one, delegates can hear the CRO perspective on how greater visibility will allow for more comparison and trend extrapolation across the industry, while one of the final sessions on day two takes a look at transparency and anti-bribery when controlling CROs from a sponsor point of view.
Another issue making waves in the industry is RBM and delegates will not be short on opportunities to find out more with a whole stream dedicated to investigating how they can apply the latest models to their current practices.
Stream C on day one includes a mix of presentations, panel discussions and case studies allowing attendees to immerse themselves into the intricacies of RBM. In a hotly anticipated session, industry body Transcelerate opens Stream C with a panel discussion where senior personnel from Bristol-Myers Squibb, Boehringer Ingelheim and Janssen examine the latest developments in RBM, as well as update delegates on the work Transcelerate is doing in this area in order to standardise methods. In another panel discussion later in the day, experts will gather to discuss how the industry can achieve best-practice in RBM on site. Topics covered in this session include perceptions on reduced monitoring versus RBM and improvements that can be made to ensure all parties are working effectively and efficiently.
The final key theme for this year’s PCT is Disruptive Innovation – a phrase that’s becoming ever more common in the industry as game-changing technologies, methods and ideas start to enter the market. On day one Stream B is dedicated to explaining what disruptive innovation means for clinical trials and how it can be implemented.
Top sessions in this stream include a ‘dual dialogue’ module where Hilde Vanaken from Janssen, Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson will put questions to Barbara Tardiff of Pfizer and Betsy Fallen of Merck & Co as they offer real-life examples of disruptive innovation in action demonstrating how it can help clinical outsourcing, patient recruitment and care, and site selection. Gunther Busam, Global Sourcing Programme Head for Innovations at Novartis, will also share his experiences in a presentation on how the pharmaceutical giant is transforming its drug development methods; the challenges and opportunities involved; and trends emerging in creating the ‘trials of the future’.
Rosie Bernard, Event Director for the 13th Annual Partnerships in Clinical Trials Congress, commented: “We always strive to create a conference programme that is at the forefront of the industry, providing crucial insights into the most pertinent trends and issues surrounding clinical trials. With case studies, real-life patient experiences, interviews, trouble-shooting sessions, panel debates, collaboration zones and interactive hubs just some of what’s in store, the conference offers unrivalled networking and educational opportunities for delegates and speakers.
“The two-day conference will enable delegates to access senior personnel at some of the world’s biggest and most influential pharmaceutical, CRO and research companies, as well as university professors, patients, clinicians and other stakeholders involved in the management and improvement of clinical trials. We’re looking forward to another vibrant and thought-provoking edition.”
In addition to the two-day conference, delegates can sign on to the Special Focus Day on 4 November where they can gain an overview of industry hot topics to prepare them for the conference days ahead. Stream X on Outsourcing Essentials gives delegates a good grounding in the basics of clinical trial success including advice on selecting vendors and implementing outsourcing models; Stream Y centres on Optimising Patient Recruitment to ensure clinical trial operators are well versed in the challenges that come with selection, retention and communication with patients; and Stream Z delves into how delegates can reap the rewards of effective contracting, budgeting and resource management.
