Decentralized trials (DCTs) can provide up to 14 times return on investment for phase 3 trials due to accelerating trial timelines, a new Tufts study has found.

In phase 2 trials, DCTs typically saved one to three months’ worth of time and delivered a net benefit up to five times greater than investment costs.

“On average, the financial returns to drug sponsors from shorter development times, lower clinical trial screen failure rates and fewer clinical trial protocol amendments associated with DCTs substantially exceeded the costs of investing in DCT technologies,” said Joseph DiMasi, director of economic analysis at Tufts’ Center for the Study of Drug Development (CSDD).

The study analyzed data from more than 150 DCTs on the Medable platform using an expected net present value based on trial cycle time, cost and performance benchmarks, in addition to some conservative assumptions about the impact of DCTs and their investment costs.

CSDD has declined to release detailed data from the study prior to it undergoing peer review. When peer review is complete, Tufts will share detailed findings on the financial savings DCTs can provide.