HHS kicks off new programs to speed clinical trials as Chinese competition looms
The department is offering funding to teams with innovative proposals as it considers ending the traditional phased clinical trial system.
Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced a new project aimed at expediting the clinical trial process for new drugs. The Simulation-augmented, Real-time Platform Adaptive Seamless Trials (SURPASS) program, set to be unveiled in Austin, Texas, seeks to streamline the drug development process and bolster U.S. competitiveness in the biotech arena.
Led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) Director Alicia Jackson, the initiative will be spearheaded by five-year funding grants awarded to innovative teams.
The SURPASS program focuses on three technical areas: phaseless trials that can be conducted with fewer patients, real-time data analysis during trials, and automation to cut inefficiencies. Medical centers, biostatisticians, and firms capable of predicting drug outcomes will likely form part of the teams. The FDA will be closely involved in the planning process.
The U.S. lags behind China in drug manufacturing due to the high costs and lengthy duration of clinical trials, which can cost around $2 billion and span over a decade. Over 90% of drug candidates fail during development. HHS and ARPA-H are optimistic that the SURPASS program can cut trial costs and timelines by up to 10x, potentially halving or more the duration required for new drug development.
Written by urgent.news from Axios's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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