The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is moving to speed drug development and review by launching real-time clinical trials.
The move could soon mean more options for patients who need life-saving medications.
The agency announced Tuesday that it has completed the first tests of a system that allows FDA scientists to see safety and effectiveness data from patients as it is collected.
This shift aims to turn the traditional, stop-and-go process of drug testing and reporting into a continuous stream of live data.
Drug development now happens in distinct stages. When one phase ends, there is often a long pause while researchers compile data to report to the FDA and wait for approval to start the next step.
By using artificial intelligence and modern data science, the FDA hopes to eliminate these gaps entirely.
“For 60 years, we’ve been conducting clinical trials in the same way, where key data signals can take years to reach the FDA. The lag time can delay regulatory decisions unnecessarily and slow down the drug development timeline,” FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary said in a news release.
By seeing safety signals in real time, the FDA aims to identify potential risks or breakthrough successes immediately, rather than waiting for a final report months later.
The agency highlighted two trials already using this technology.
AstraZeneca is testing a treatment for mantle cell lymphoma, while Amgen is conducting a trial
for small cell lung cancer. In both cases, the drug developers are sharing live signals with the FDA, showing that the technology appears ready for the mainstream.
The technology they’re using is embedded into workflows at hospitals through companies like Paradigm Health. Its AI-powered platform was used for AstraZeneca’s multi-site lymphoma trial, capturing data directly from a patient’s electronic health record and other sources, and reported to the FDA in real time.
Jeremy Walsh, the FDA’s chief AI officer, said the human cost of waiting for data is too high.
“Real-time trials have been talked about for years,” he said. “We demonstrated that it is not only possible, but also potentially transformative for the clinical trials ecosystem.”
The FDA has released a Request for Information to help design a larger pilot program launching this summer. The agency is looking for feedback from scientists and drug makers through May 29, to ensure the system is both efficient and secure.
For our community, faster, more efficient clinical trials may help address long-standing gaps in access to new drugs and treatments. Historically, Black patients have been underrepresented in clinical trials, limiting the understanding of how new drugs work across diverse populations.
The FDA’s move toward real-time clinical trial monitoring — using tools such as artificial intelligence (AI) to track safety and effectiveness as data is generated — could help make trials more flexible and accessible. Rather than relying solely on large academic hospitals, researchers may be able to include more community-based clinicals, expanding participation opportunities.
This change could mean:
If you’ve considered joining a clinical trial, these recent changes may make the process much easier and more transparent.
Real-time monitoring allows researchers, healthcare professionals, and regulatory agencies to detect potential side effects or benefits earlier, rather than waiting several months or years for results. This could improve patient safety and help promising treatments move forward faster.
Here’s what you should keep in mind:
If you’re interested, speak with your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you — especially if current treatments aren’t working for you or you want to explore new options. You can also check out BlackDoctor’s Clinical Trials Resource Center to find open trials seeking participants.
More information
Learn more about clinical research at ClinicalTrials.gov.
SOURCES: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, news release, April 28, 2026; Paradigm Health, news release, April 28, 2026
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