Those at work and innovating in the realms of clinical trials, drug development, and pharma face the largest challenges of their careers. But they do so armed with some of the finest medical tools ever known to man, empowered by opportunities never imagined before.

A microsampling pioneer in Italy has recently developed, validated, and submitted for publication a new LC-MS/MS method for measuring concentrations of a range of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) using Volumetric Absorptive Microsampling (VAMS™) technology. Dr. Ugo de Grazia and his collaborators at Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta Neurological Hospital in Milano have established a useful example for facilitating easier antiepileptic drug monitoring and for dealing extraction difficulties of small drugs on different physical-chemical properties.

Clinical trials require recruitment, retention, and engagement. Recruitment is one of the most challenging factors, and one that must be must overcome if anything good is to be accomplished. Poor recruitment results in trial delays, which can lead to financial loses. Recruitment of too few test subjects also creates the potential for presenting biased results; more test participants are needed in order to present comprehensive and conclusive results. Here is why patient recruitment presents a challenge to the recruiters:

Clinical trials are arguably the most important phase of the pharmaceutical development process; scientists get to see how their drugs work in real life and make important improvements. There are many recent innovations in the medical field that are completely transforming the way we conduct clinical trials, which means important new drugs are safer and get to the market faster. Here are five of the most important innovations that are changing clinical trials today:

The Mitra^® microsampling device, based on Volumetric Absorptive Microsampling (VAMS™) technology developed by Neoteryx, is a simple instrument. It collects small, volumetrically accurate specimens of blood (and other biological fluids) and allows for remote sampling, taking blood collection out of the clinic.