As artificial intelligence reshapes clinical development, sponsors are rethinking what they need from their CRO partners. Cost pressures, increasingly complex therapeutics, and the growing role of specialist biopharma are accelerating the shift away from scale-driven models toward agility, specialism, and smarter use of technology.
In a new Clinical Research News trendspotting article, Graham Clark, CEO of Phastar, shares his perspective on how AI-enabled workflows, flexible service models, and real-time data tools are redefining CRO–sponsor partnerships. The piece explores why “good enough” is no longer sufficient, and why, in 2026 and beyond, sponsors will increasingly rely on specialist, strategically aligned CROs to deliver both quality and speed in an evolving clinical trial landscape.