Patients. Subjects. Participants. However we define them, the role they play in bringing new drugs to market is unquestionable. As such, drug developers the world over are looking for new ways to better attract, retain and serve patients enrolled in their programmes.

Key market trends are driving patient centricity in drug development. In a climate where growth in the clinical pipeline remains flat and trial durations are increasing, remote, virtual or decentralised clinical trials are rising in line with industry trial starts. The rationale for this is clear. By designing programmes around patients, sponsors can reduce the burden and improve the experience of participation, while opening access to a wider, more diverse patient pool, expediting recruitment/study start up and reducing drop-out rates.

However, while these trends are driving patient centricity, key challenges are impacting the way sponsors approach the management of their clinical trial supply. Drug profiles are evolving, with difficult to handle products adding additional layers of complexity when it comes to packaging considerations and demanding precise handling at each step of the journey. Ambitious timelines and mid-programme changes necessitate new levels of agility from sponsors and their partners. And accommodating new clinical trial locations and designs places increased onus on sponsors to operate supply chains with meticulous oversight.

Overcoming supply challenges to streamline operations and driving patient centricity are two sides of the same coin. Programmes don’t become more patient centric by accident. They must be patient centric by design. Where the clinical supply chain is concerned, several supply strategies can help overcome key challenges, improve patient centricity and help shape a new era of drug development.