| Literature DB >> 29714514 |
Diane Bloom1, Joel Beetsch2, Matthew Harker3, Sharon Hesterlee4, Paulo Moreira5, Bray Patrick-Lake6, Wendy Selig7, Jeffrey Sherman8, Sophia K Smith9, James E Valentine10, Jamie N Roberts6.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To identify the elements necessary for successful collaboration between patient groups and academic and industry sponsors of clinical trials, in order to develop recommendations for best practices for effective patient group engagement.Entities:
Keywords: actionable recommendations; best practices; clinical trials; patient group engagement; therapeutic development
Mesh:
Year: 2017 PMID: 29714514 PMCID: PMC5846850 DOI: 10.1177/2168479017720247
Source DB: PubMed Journal: Ther Innov Regul Sci ISSN: 2168-4790 Impact factor: 1.778
Characteristics of Interview Respondents (N=32).
| Sector | Activities | n |
|---|---|---|
| Design clinical trial protocols and materials Work on ways within their companies to engage more effectively with patient groups Promote and encourage patient engagement activities within their companies | 12 | |
| Design protocols and materials and implement clinical trials | 10 | |
| Support patients and families Educate about disease treatments, risks, quality of life Shape the research agenda Influence policy Fund research Operate patient-powered research networks | 10 |
Recommendations on Best Practices for Effective Patient Group (PG) Engagement.
| Recommendation | Details and Actions |
|---|---|
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| Engage the “patient voice” by establishing partnerships from the beginning of the research and development program to improve trial design and execution | Include the perspective of patients (ie, the “patient voice”) in the early stages of disease targeting. Sponsors benefit by a clearer, more focused understanding of unmet need, therapeutic burden, opportunities for expanding indications, and better targets. Patients benefit by less burdensome study protocols and more meaningful and relevant endpoints, increasing the likelihood they will participate in the trials or potentially help to develop a meaningful treatment for their disease. |
| From the start, clearly define the expectations, roles, and responsibilities of all partners, including the resources being committed, data being shared, and objectives of the program | It is important to clearly delineate the roles of partnership and clarify the goals and objectives of the collaboration. Expectations about the role of PG consultation and input should be clarified at the start of the collaboration. PG input may be taken into account when determining the objectives of a clinical program or development of a protocol; research sponsors must balance that input with scientific understanding as well as business and regulatory needs. |
| Build the trust required for successful partnerships by being transparent and trustworthy, following through on commitments, and honoring confidentiality | All stakeholders should be open, transparent, and honor commitments to the development program. Confidentiality Agreements (CAs) and Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) allow sharing of sensitive information with PGs. Expectations about the role of PG consultation and input should be clarified at the start of the collaboration. |
| Involve the expertise of multiple partners for a broader perspective to mitigate risk and enrich pipeline development | PGs should be involved with multiple research sponsors to increase the pipeline of therapies in development. Sponsors should engage with more than one PG in a particular disease area to ensure that a representative patient perspective is reflected in the input obtained. |
| Manage real or perceived conflicts of interest by establishing policies that require full disclosure, transparency, and accountability | There are no FDA laws, regulations, or guidelines explicitly prohibiting early engagement with PGs. It is important to clarify which kinds of interactions with PGs are permissible and which ones might violate FDA regulations or fraud, abuse, and other regulations. The bottom line is that research sponsors can engage with PGs in planning and conducting clinical trials. Each type of PG engagement will have its own contractual rules and parameters to mitigate risk. |
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| Integrate into your ongoing research and portfolio planning an assessment of PG expertise, assets, and value to your program | The primary drivers for PG engagement are achievement of project milestones, corporate culture, and therapeutic area/vertical business unit interaction. Research sponsors need to develop and execute a comprehensive roadmap for substantive PG engagement. Research sponsors should consider identifying a single point of contact from the company or institution who has a sufficiently broad view of the internal dynamics of the organization. |
| Match PG expertise and assets to the specific needs and phases of your R&D programs | Research sponsors should recognize differences in the skills, experience, and capabilities of PGs. Currently there are no industry-wide tools used to select a PG. It is imperative to assess PG expertise, interests, organizational capacity, and relationships. |
| Ensure that PGs are essential partners throughout the R&D process and not token voices | Research sponsors should recognize that the most successful partnerships with PGs are those in which both entities are full partners at the outset, working toward the same goals from different perspectives. The patients’ voice as communicated by PGs is key to understanding the day-to-day effects of the condition and the acceptable benefit-risk tradeoff of treatment. |
| For consistency, establish guiding principles and clear lines of communication to facilitate a fit-for-purpose process for collaborating with PGs | Sponsors should establish and document best practices for engaging with PGs, including how to approach them, the legal requirements for working with them, and a template for master services agreements. Elements of the work practice may include a database of previous collaborations, required documents, and clear lines of communication. |
| Measure the impact of PG engagement | Though no standard metrics exist for PG engagement across industry, it is recommended that research sponsors establish expectations up front on how to measure the effectiveness of the partnership. A regular assessment of satisfaction related to objectives, expectations, and success of strategies is recommended. |
| Establish ongoing relationships with PGs and communicate openly with them on a regular basis | Study teams should communicate with them regularly throughout in the development program. It is also important to maintain regular communication with PGs even when there is no study news. |
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| Proactively identify, engage, and bring the patients’ voice to stakeholders relevant to your R&D interests | Recognize that there are limits to what any one PG can accomplish alone. To be successful in partnerships, you must build and sustain that trust to maintain your credibility among the constituents who rely on your group for dependable information. |
| Promote your value as an essential partner by maximizing and articulating your expertise and assets | PGs should know what they can offer research sponsors and have information and/or data that clearly articulates their value proposition. Through active, continuous engagement in the development program, PGs can demonstrate a unique value to their academic and industry partners. |
| Deliver your expertise and assets to sponsors throughout the entire R&D process | PGs should express the patient perspective as early as possible and throughout the development process—during basic and translational research, preclinical and clinical trial planning and implementation, the regulatory process, and the postmarket period. The degree to which the PG can provide grants to selected academic investigators and participate in a variety of forms of funding with industry partners and even well-vetted venture philanthropy partners will help position the PG as a key player in the field. |
| Select sponsors who have a product or program with significant promise for your constituents and who are committed to engaging in a meaningful way | PGs should ensure that they have a “finger on the pulse” of the preclinical landscape in order to maximize opportunities and ensure that they are viewed as valuable partners for sponsors. The PG should consider establishing a scientific review process in order to have an independent ability to evaluate the science being presented. |
| Manage real or perceived conflicts of interest by establishing policies that require full disclosure, transparency, and accountability | PGs should create written policies to clarify their position on accepting funds from industry sponsors, purchasing company stock, and other activities that might be perceived as generating a conflict. To manage internal and external conflicts of interest (COI) effectively, PGs should fully disclose relationships with industry sponsors. To help PGs navigate the complex web of decisions and opportunities, it is recommended that they prospectively develop a “Guiding Principles” document. |