Global ICON survey shows need for more efficient obesity clinical trial design to realise full potential of next-gen multi-indication therapies

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[{"type":"text","content":" DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--\nICON plc, (NASDAQ: ICLR) a world-leading clinical research organisation powered by healthcare intelligence, today released the findings of a survey of 155 biotech and pharma professionals from across the US and Europe focusing on multi-indication cardiometabolic R&D for therapies targeting obesity and its comorbidities.\n\nMulti-indication studies are clinical trials that test how a treatment works for more than one condition or disease. As researchers uncover the potential of particular drug classes across interconnected diseases, the commercial opportunities have increased the appetite for additional research that targets multiple indications.\n\nThe findings indicate that most sponsors (83% of respondents) are pursuing multi-indication approaches in their obesity-related research. However, the survey results also suggest that sponsors may underestimate the complexity of these strategies - particularly when selecting inclusion criteria and endpoints - which can lead to inefficiencies in the clinical development process.\n\nFor example, nine in ten respondents reported that they are not implementing non-traditional study arms, such as master protocols. However, these designs offer pipeline efficiencies to multi-indication development by allowing enrolment of patients with different conditions into the same trial permitting different efficacy signals to be assessed.\n\nSimon Bruce, MD, VP, Drug Development Solutions, Internal Medicine at ICON, commented: “In the last few years, obesity-related drugs such as GLP-1s have surged in popularity, as has interest in their applicability for other health conditions and related commercial prospects. This survey has shown us that respondents realise that trial design is of paramount importance in devising a multi-indication approach, but don’t necessarily know the best way to go about it.”\n\nSponsors surveyed are also likely to be neglecting to collect valuable longitudinal data and real-world evidence (RWE) that can help them make informed decisions about multi-indication clinical development. Only 14% reported pursuing multiple indications for a single drug based on longitudinal data, and only 19% reported following patients for more than three years.\n\nRose Kidd, President, Global Operations Delivery at ICON, noted: “The considerable logistical and statisti...

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