Optimizing Site Activation To Accelerate Clinical Trials

By Rosie Whittaker, senior director, clinical development strategy & innovation; Reiz Evans, director of business information, clinical development strategy & innovation; Silvia Santos, vice president, clinical operations, Thermo Fisher Scientific PPD

Clinical trial site activation delays remain a major bottleneck in drug development, driven by increasing study complexity, global site saturation, and slow contracting processes. From 2017 to 2023, site activation cycle times extended by two months, with many sites going live too late to contribute meaningfully to enrollment. This hampers trial timelines and funding flows, especially for biotech sponsors, and risks missing enrollment targets.

To reverse this trend, drug developers must prioritize site-focused solutions. These include assigning a single point of contact to streamline communication, leveraging AI and RPA tools to automate startup tasks, and using integrated portals and analytics to reduce manual workloads and optimize site selection. Case studies show that these strategies can yield a 25-point improvement in on-time activation and a 15-point gain in enrollment performance. The key lies in equipping sites with the tools, support, and streamlined processes they need to activate quickly and recruit effectively. By doing so, sponsors can accelerate timelines and improve clinical trial success.