Kevin L McMahon
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Supporting detail

FDA says the first real-time clinical trial is already live

The transcript describes a live real-time trial, not a future framework, where reviewers can see agreed-upon signals in the cloud as the trial happens.

live nowcloud visibilityagreed-upon signals

How it was defined

Makary said a real-time clinical trial is one where FDA reviewers can see safety signals and clinical endpoints in the cloud in real time as a clinical trial is happening.

Connected idea: real-time visibility is the central feature.

Examples used in the transcript

The Commissioner used examples such as a patient developing a fever, being hospitalized, or a tumor shrinking with a new radiology reading.

Connected idea: reviewers see agreed-upon endpoints and safety signals.

Not theoretical

The transcript explicitly says this is not a plan, not a statement of intent, and not a panel discussion about doing it. It is up and running.

Connected idea: FDA wanted to emphasize real implementation.

A broader destination

Makary described this as a step toward broader goals: more continuous trials and less lag time between phases.

Connected idea: the live trial is positioned as the first step, not the end state.