From December 9 to 11, the Cardiovascular Clinical Trial (CVCT) Forum brought together over 400 speakers across 40 sessions at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC. This prestigious event provided a deep dive into the latest clinical trial developments, drawing a global audience of key stakeholders in the cardiovascular, cardiorenal, and cardiometabolic medicine fields.
FH Europe Foundation was proudly represented by CEO Magdalena Daccord, who spoke on the European Health Data Space and its impact on clinical trials in the context of familial hyperlipidaemias. Her insights underscored the importance of collaboration to advance patient-centred care and trial innovations.
A Unique Platform for Clinical Trial Excellence
CVCT Forum is unparalleled in its focus on dissecting individual trial results beyond the brief “Late-Breaking Clinical Trials” presentations typically seen at international conferences. Over three days, attendees participated in detailed discussions led by investigators, statisticians, journal editors, regulators, clinicians, industry experts, payers, and patients. Among the speakers were some of FHEF's partners and friends, including Prof. Borge Nordestgaard - President Elect of the European Atherosclerosis Society, Prof. Erik Stroes from the Netherlands, Prof. Christie Ballantyne, Penilla Gunther from Sweden, and many more.
Expanding Clinical Horizons
This year, CVCT extended its scope beyond cardiology, touching on nephrology, endocrinology, diabetology, pulmonary hypertension, lipidology, cardio-oncology, rare diseases, geriatrics, pediatric cardiology, and more. The program featured three parallel tracks, including a dedicated lipidology track with presentations covering familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH), homozygous FH (HoFH), elevated Lp(a), familial chylomicronaemia syndrome (FCS), and related disorders. Sessions also explored cutting-edge topics such as AI in clinical trials, pediatric trials, and the role of women in trials.
Building Bridges Across Stakeholders
CVCT fosters connections between diverse stakeholders to advance clinical trial science:
A Unique Panel Composition: Experts, Regulators, Sponsors, and Patients Unite
One of the most remarkable aspects of CVCT Forum 2024 was the composition of its panels. The event brought together a dynamic mix of medical and research experts, industry representatives knowledgeable as trial “sponsors”, regulators predominantly from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and many international patients, advocates, and leaders of patient organisations, fostering a truly collaborative environment. Discussions delved into the trial rationale, design, operational issues, statistical interpretation, clinical relevance, and the pathways to approval, reimbursement, and implementation.
This diverse composition ensured that the perspectives of all stakeholders were represented, setting the stage for robust debates and groundbreaking insights. Patients, in particular, played an essential role in these discussions, offering real-world perspectives on the impact of clinical trials.
Going Global: Expanding Representation
CVCT 2024 prioritized inclusivity by expanding its reach to underrepresented regions, including Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific. By involving faculty and regulators from these regions, the forum aims to foster diversity and a truly global approach to clinical trials.
FHEF Key Contributions
In her contribution, FHEF’s CEO - Magdalena Daccord, highlighted the critical role of European Health Data Space (EHDS) in advancing data-driven clinical trials and research with some very specific potential opportunities and challenges in the field of familial hyperlipidaemias. She referred to the importance of electronic health records screening for improved detection of patients with FH, elevated Lp(a), even HoFH and FCS, new frontiers in clinical trials design and meaningful endpoints, as well as challenges like the right approach to patient engagement, informed consent, secondary use of health data, health literacy and the fundamental issue of trust in the context of data collection, use and sharing. Furthermore, Daccord highlighted the importance of continuous and dedicated training of patient experts to be able to meaningfully contribute to clinical trial design, especially in the context of the EHDS. Additionally, she met with patient advocates from around the world, emphasising the importance of global collaboration in addressing unmet needs in genetic CVD risk factors and rare diseases like HoFH and FCS.
Looking Forward: Elevating the Patient Voice
While the Forum effectively integrated patient perspectives, there is significant potential to amplify their role in shaping future therapies. Moving forward, CVCT could benefit from:
A Call for Greater Patient Involvement
The FH Europe Foundation remains committed to championing the voices of patients in all aspects of clinical trial science. By embracing co-creation and prioritizing meaningful outcomes, the clinical trials of tomorrow can better serve the needs of the people they are designed to help. Events like CVCT provide the ideal platform to drive this evolution, ensuring that advancements in medicine translate into real-world benefits for patients worldwide.
The FH Europe Foundation is grateful to the organizers of CVCT Forum 2024 and inspired by the discussions that unfolded over the three days. We are eager to continue engaging with this vibrant community of clinical trialists and patient advocates. Together, we can drive meaningful advancements in evidence-based medicine and improve outcomes for patients worldwide.