What is a MAMS trial?

MAMS trials

A “multi-arm, multi-stage” trial platform is a new exciting way of testing treatments. Unlike typical clinical trials which test a single treatment, MAMS trials test more than one treatment at the same time in separate groups. This set up allows several treatments to be tested against one common dummy drug (placebo). It also means our participants are more likely to receive the active treatment when compared to standard clinical trials.

This adaptive trial design allows the addition of new treatment groups whilst the trial is ongoing, avoiding the need to set up a new trial from the very beginning, saving time and resources. Researchers will be able to change the drugs being tested according to emerging results. This means, treatments will be checked at early stages to see if they are appearing to be efficient, if found to be working the active treatment will contribute to further stages, and if not, it will be dropped and a new treatment picked up.

A MAMS trial set up has many advantages over traditional trials, summarised below:

• Several treatments can be tested at the same time against one common control, increasing the chances of receiving the active treatment (“multi-arm”)
• Treatments that seem to be working early on can continue to the next stage, and those that appear to not be effective can be dropped out
• Data is analysed through the trial and not just at the end
• New treatments can join the trial without the ned to set up a new trial