Enhancing the Landscape of Clinical Trials for Multiple System Atrophy: Beatrice Yang, MD

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“Now I think we’re in a different space where there is a growing recognition for patient centered design that’s not just nice to have, but really important and even an expectation.”

Clinical trials, while crucial for advancing medical knowledge, can pose difficult challenges to patients and caregivers who participate. In recent years, patient and caregiver perspectives have taken on a greater role in trial design, with researchers continually seeking feedback to reduce burdens associated with participation. Some clinicians are even going as far as exploring home-based trial visits as a way to improve convenience, enhance retention, and better support patients throughout the research process.

At 2025 International Congress of Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders (MDS), held October 5-9, in Honolulu, Hawaii, researchers presented several different topics related to clinical trials, including for patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA). Led by Beatrice Yang, MD, lead specialist for patent insights at Lundbeck in Valby, Copenhagen, the analysis described the perspectives of people living with MSA and their care partners on the design and operational characteristics of a phase 3 trial, dubbed MASCOT (NCT06706622), in MSA.

Overall, the analysis found a consensus amongst interviewees (n = 39) that trial participation requires a significant time, resource, and emotional commitment. The patient feedback, used by Lundbeck to design the phase 3 study, further supported the importance of incorporating feedback into trial designs. In an interview with NeurologyLive®, Yang explained the thought process behind Lundbeck’s newest trial design and how patient voices helped shape the study. She spoke about the changing landscape of trial design across the board, citing an industry wide shift toward participants as well as telemedicine as big drivers of positive change.

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REFERENCE
1. Yang B, Santana AS, Murphy R, et al. Incorporating Patient and Care Partner Feedback on the Protocol for a Clinical Trial Assessing Progression in MSA. Mov Disord. 2025; 40 (suppl 1). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/incorporating-patient-and-care-partner-feedback-on-the-protocol-for-a-clinical-trial-assessing-progression-in-msa/. Accessed November 17, 2025.