.svg)
Term to Know: Decentralized clinical trial (DCT)
Decentralized Clinical Trials (DCTs) are clinical studies that use digital technologies and remote processes to enable patients to participate from home or local environments, reducing or eliminating the need for travel to physical trial sites.
DCTs aim to make clinical research more accessible, flexible, and inclusive by minimizing geographic, logistical, and time barriers. They can be fully decentralized or hybrid, blending traditional site-based activities with remote elements.
Despite the personal and economic challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, it accelerated one positive change: mainstream adoption of decentralized clinical trials (DCTs) and their supporting technologies. The pandemic confirmed that not every clinical trial visit requires an on-site presence, and innovative eClinical solutions like eConsent, telehealth, and direct-to-patient (DtP) shipment of drug products have transformed how trials operate.
Our industry is experiencing a fundamental shift in trial conduct, with no signs of returning to previous methods that relied more heavily on manual inputs and operations. Even sponsors watching DCT growth from the sidelines acknowledge that virtual access is the future of clinical research.
DCTs have seen significant growth in recent years. According to industry research, as of 2025, approximately 55% of clinical trials incorporate at least one decentralized method or technology. This reflects a significant increase from pre-pandemic levels, when the average was closer to 43%. This percentage is expected to rise to 66% in the next five years as decentralized and hybrid models become more standard in clinical research, reflecting the broader industry shift towards integrating decentralized elements into traditional clinical trial designs.
How can companies move beyond the "late majority" (as described in Geoffrey Moore's "Crossing the Chasm") to join the "early majority" or become "early adopters" and "innovators"? Even as DCTs become more normalized and the technology supporting them more proven, sponsors must continue to optimize around minimizing risk when adopting eClinical technologies for DCTs.
Clinical trial success isn’t just about the technology supporting the investigation. It also depends heavily on the expertise of the technology partners.
Sponsors concerned about potential risks should seek technology partners with genuine expertise who can alleviate investment worries and guide the implementation of significant changes. Here's our litmus test for selecting an RTSM technology partner:
1. Deep Understanding of Clinical Trial Business
Does the potential partner demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of clinical trials broadly and your specific clinical goals? Or is the vendor unable to connect technical specifications and performance with overall trial success?
2. Systems Integration Perspective
Can the potential partner see beyond their proprietary system to appreciate the solution's role in the larger trial workflow and development process? Remember that a DCT might involve as many as 15 different vendors. Look for clear, transparent processes, streamlined specification reviews, and expert technology guidance that allows your clinical team to focus on trial goals.
3. Regulatory Knowledge
Does the potential partner understand current regulations and their application to the technology solution? This includes beginning with the end in mind and taking responsibility for managing data through to regulatory filing.
4. Collaborative Ecosystem
Does the technology company play well with others? Have they established necessary partnerships with other technology vendors and demonstrated significant experience integrating systems for smooth data flow and operations?
5. Robust Quality Systems and Continuous RTSM Platform Improvement
Does the technology provider maintain robust quality systems? Look for:
At Endpoint Clinical, we bring 15 years of RTSM innovation, 600+ of the best in RTSM staff members, and experience from 2,000+ studies. Our extensive therapeutic area expertise is backed by a flawless regulatory record—350+ inspections on behalf of clients with zero findings related to Endpoint.
Our innovation doesn't just happen for innovation's sake. With five generations of RTSM platform releases built on deep domain knowledge, Endpoint is elevating what an RTSM can do by offering modern cloud architecture built to scale at a global level, tech-enabled quality gates, and a flexible, feature-rich RTSM that accommodates any trial
We're committed to making RTSM deliver strategic value. Not settling for rote innovation, we are pushing for operational vigilance — modern solutions and continuous support that elevate what RTSM can do for you.
We currently find ourselves in a virtuous cycle of adoption and implementation. Working through the challenges of DCTs created opportunities to advance trial conduct and increase accessibility. Now that we’ve seen how the process improvements necessary to run DCT’s can improve all aspects of clinical trial logistics management, we can expect DCT adoption to grow as long as sponsors can adopt the associated technology with minimal risk.
Sponsors who partner with Endpoint can proceed confidently, knowing they'll receive necessary guidance to minimize risk and conduct successful decentralized clinical trials. Because when expertise and innovation converge, that's your hidden advantage in RTSM.
Reach out to Endpoint for more information on our services, solutions, or to request a demo.
Why traditional KPIs fall short—and how strategic metrics can strengthen clinical trial partnerships
Minimize risk when adopting eClinical tech to support decentralized clinical trials (DCTs).
Why RTSM data integrity matters more than ever in today’s complex, fast-moving clinical trials.
