A double-blind randomized Phase III trial seeks to recruit 500 subjects in 2 years. At the end of the first year, 150 subjects have been enrolled. Monitoring reports from the first year note 50% of subjects screened were screen failures due to exclusionary lab values. What action should the sponsor take?
Correct Answer: D
The high rate of screen failures indicates that the inclusion/exclusion criteria may be too stringent or not appropriately defined. The sponsor should evaluate the reasons for these failures and determine whether the protocol needs adjustment. Revising the criteria may increase recruitment efficiency without compromising the scientific validity of the study. GCP guidelines advise reviewing and possibly revising protocols when screen failure rates are significantly high to ensure feasible recruitment. "If a high number of screen failures occurs, the sponsor should evaluate the inclusion/exclusion criteria and consider protocol revisions." Objectives: * Improve recruitment efficiency. * Adapt protocol criteria to real-world conditions.