195 - Clinical Trial Design, Oncology Innovation & Decentralized Trials with Archana Sah

Let's Combinate · 2 Jul 2025 · 47m

What this episode covers

Archana Sah, a clinical development thought leader with 30 years of experience at companies including Genentech/Roche, Bayer, and Medable, explains the rigorous design of oncology clinical trials, emphasizing the shift from placebo to standard-of-care comparators and the critical role of patient diversity. She details the evolution toward Decentralized Clinical Trials (DCTs) and the use of digital health technologies to overcome enrollment barriers and address historical mistrust in medical research. Sah argues that while DCTs introduce complexity for sponsors, they are essential for enrolling diverse populations, provided they are deployed in a 'fit for purpose' manner that balances data integrity with patient burden.

Mentioned

Companies
Genentech/Roche, Bayer, Johnson & Johnson, ICON, Medable, Tufts University, AstraZeneca
Products
Tecentriq, Alecensa, Polivy, Hemlibra, Gazyva
Also
FDA, EMA

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