The lowest-cost patient-centered initiatives — such as involving advisory groups and offering patient counseling and education — led to the largest returns in clinical trial performance.

Studies saw faster patient enrollment and higher retention, and companies noticed stronger reach in more countries when using telemedicine, social media and mobile health apps, according to a study by the DIA and the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development. The study found that relatively small investments in patient engagements could save millions over the course of a long-term drug development portfolio.

Currently, regulatory guidance on patient engagement is limited, with a greater focus expected in the PDUFA VI reauthorization next year.