abstract: Funding Oncology Clinical Trials: Are Cooperative Group Trials Sustainable?

Funding Oncology Clinical Trials: Are Cooperative Group Trials Sustainable?

Conclusion
The negative trough in the lifetime net income of a cooperative group trial occurs because follow-up costs are typically not funded or are underfunded. CTDs accrue more patients in new trials to offset that deficit. The CTD uses revenue from accrual to existing trials to cross-subsidize past trials in follow-up. As the number of patients on follow-up increases, the fiscal deficit grows larger each year, perpetuating the cycle.