Protecting Patients, Protecting Your Study: The Benefits Of A Well-Run Data Monitoring Committee

Everything rests on having the right Data Monitoring Committee (DMC) in place. A well-run DMC protects patient safety and ensures data integrity. A poorly run one puts patients—and the trial itself—at risk.

DMCs are independent groups of experts, typically clinicians and statisticians, who monitor patient safety and sometimes treatment efficacy data during a clinical trial. They review unmasked interim data, determine whether the participants in a trial are safe, and decide whether the trial can continue as planned.

Not all DMCs are the same, however. Sponsors that want to protect trial participants and their investment need to make sure they have a well-run DMC.