Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41744184›Full record

ArticleClinical trials (London, England)2026

Shaping the future of clinical trials through strategic foresight.

Sharon Lee, Jeff McIntyre, Tracey Robertson, Kimberley Kallsen, Martin Bauer, Rossana Berardi, Christian Boisvert-Huneault, Emmanuelle Clerisme-Beaty, Christopher P Denton, Eric Fakra and 11 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Clinical trials (London, England), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. The future of pharmaceuticals: strategic foresight in an era of uncertainty.Journal of pharmaceutical policy and practice · 2026
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

21 authors.

Sharon LeeCanadian Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (CPFF), Toronto, ON, Canada.ORCID 0009-0001-5237-9230
Jeff McIntyrePatient Author.
Tracey RobertsonBoehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ridgefield, CT, USA.
Kimberley KallsenBoehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany.
Martin BauerMedical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Rossana BerardiDepartment of Oncology, Università Politecnica delle Marche-AOU Marche, Ancona, Italy.
Christian Boisvert-HuneaultPatient Author.ORCID 0000-0002-2111-2517
Emmanuelle Clerisme-BeatyBoehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany.
Christopher P DentonUCL Division of Medicine, University College London, London, UK.
Eric FakraDepartment of Psychiatry, University Hospital of St-Etienne, Saint-Priest-en-Jarez, France.
Jan GeisslerPatient Author.
David GoldsteinUniversity of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Kazuo HasegawaPatient Author.
Manya LindCopenhagen Institute for Futures Studies, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Patricia LoRussoYale University/Yale Cancer Center, New Haven, CT, USA.
Keith PerryPatient Author.
Claas RöhlPatient Author.
Jose Francisco Kerr SaraivaPontifical Catholic University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
Nidhi SwarupPatient Author.
Aron SzpisjakCopenhagen Institute for Futures Studies, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Allan FlyvbjergJ. E. Ohlsens Gade 4, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

aimsGlobal megatrends, including population growth, interconnectedness and artificial intelligence, are already shaping the clinical trials industry, and will do so for decades to come. Innovations from technology companies, greater collaboration with patients and caregivers, and increased diversity in clinical trials could transform clinical trials of the future. However, the industry has typically been slow to adopt new technologies, and certain barriers could stifle innovation and allow health inequalities to persist. Our aim was to explore the trends shaping clinical trials and identify initiatives that can be started now to move toward a future where patients are actively involved in clinical trial design and decision-making, and technologies like artificial intelligence are integrated responsibly and ethically into clinical trials.

methodsWe used strategic foresight methodology to explore the trends that will shape the future of clinical trials and how the trajectory of these trends could lead to different future scenarios We then identified initiatives that could help us move toward our desired scenario.

resultsWe identified four possible scenarios for the future of clinical trials based on two key trends: data sharing and adaptation of regulatory frameworks. While the future will see collection of large amounts of data from different sources, such as databases and wearable devices, their usefulness could be limited if data remain in silos, limited by strict regulations and a lack of trust in data privacy. Alternatively, data may be integrated more efficiently into clinical trials if regulators adapt proactively to new technologies and patients are empowered to take control over their data, for example. We identified initiatives that can be started now to achieve our vision. Pharmaceutical companies, academic researchers, non-governmental organizations (including patient organizations), regulatory authorities, policymakers, technology companies and innovative service providers must join forces and work on initiatives to integrate technology into trials, enable data sharing, harmonize regulations across regions, co-design trials with patients and caregivers, strengthen decentralized trial capabilities and promote diversity in trials.

conclusionThrough a collaborative cross-industry effort that prioritizes proactive patient involvement and responsible use of technology, we can shape a clinical trial ecosystem that is inclusive, ethical and ready for the future. We urge all stakeholders to act now on these initiatives to positively influence the future of clinical trials.

Indexed as

Clinical Trials as TopicArtificial IntelligenceForecastingHumansInformation DisseminationResearch Designartificial intelligenceClinical trialsdata sharinginnovationmegatrendsmultistakeholderpatient centricityregulatory frameworktechnology

Identifiers

PMID41744184
PMCPMC13242527

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.