From Models to Meaning: Why TMLE Matters for Causal Inference 

April 29th, 2026 6 minute read

In clinical research and real-world evidence generation, one of the most common scientific questions we face is deceptively simple: what would happen to outcomes if all patients received treatment A instead of treatment B?  While the question sounds straightforward, the statistical reality behind it is far more complex. At its core, this is a population-level causal […]

Data programmingdata-programming

OCT Europe 2026

March 8th, 2026 1 minute read

Phastar is delighted to be exhibiting at the OCT Europe, 6-7 May in Barcelona, Spain. Visit the Phastar exhibit at booth #2 and learn more about our services.

Technologytechnology

PHUSE SDE, Beijing 2026

March 6th, 2026 1 minute read

Phastar is delighted to be attending PHUSE SDE, 15 May in Beijing, China. Connect to meet with our team on site or join our presentations: Introduction to AI SDK and Ink: Building Web and Terminal Apps with TypeScriptYong Cao, Senior Programming Manager13:30 – 14:00 Design and Analysis of a Multi-Frequency PRO Collection Strategy in a […]

Technologytechnology

2026 CDISC Europe Interchange

March 2nd, 2026 1 minute read

Phastar is delighted to be attending the 2026 CDISC Europe Interchange 20-21 May in Milan, Italy Connect to meet with our team on site or join our presentation: Climbing Out of the Silos: Connecting CDISC Standards and Open-Source Tools for End-to-End AutomationWednesday 20 May, 2:30 – 3:00pmJohn McDade, Associate Director, Operational Excellence

Technologytechnology

PharmaSUG US 2026

February 28th, 2026 1 minute read

Phastar is excited to be attending PharmaSUG US, 31May – 3 June in Boston, MA. Connect with us on site or visit our posters: %Compare_counts: A Macro for Speeding Up the QC Process When Proc Compare Slows It Down E-Poster Closing the Expectation Gap: A Leadership Framework for Clinical Programming SuccessCareer Development, Leadership & Soft […]

Technologytechnology

BIO International 2026

February 24th, 2026 1 minute read

Phastar is excited to be attending BIO International, 22 – 25 June in San Diego, CA Visit us at booth #5957 to learn more about our solutions.

Technologytechnology

RSS 2026

February 20th, 2026 1 minute read

Phastar is excited to be attending the RSS 2026, 7-10 September in Bournemouth, UK. Connect with us to learn more about our solutions.

Technologytechnology

How Automation and AI Are Transforming SDTM Delivery

February 19th, 2026 3 minute read

Introduction  As regulatory demands intensify, the challenge for sponsors is not just to produce SDTM-compliant data, it must be done rapidly, accurately, and at scale. Traditional SDTM programming can be resource-intensive, especially when managing frequent updates or pooled submissions.  At Phastar, our MAPIT automation tool redefines how SDTM packages are created, combining metadata-driven processes, artificial […]

Data sciencedata-science

ASA 2026

February 18th, 2026 1 minute read

Phastar is excited to be attending the ASA Biopharmaceutical Section Regulatory-Industry Statistics Workshop from 16 -18 September in Rockville, MD. Connect with us or visit our booth to learn more about our solutions.

Technologytechnology

OCT New England 2026

February 10th, 2026 1 minute read

Phastar is excited to be attending OCT New England, 27 -28 October in Boston, MA. Connect with us or visit at booth #33A to learn more about our solutions.

Technologytechnology

European Statistical Forum 2026

February 7th, 2026 1 minute read

Phastar is excited to be attending European Statistical Forum, 12 – 13 November in NH Budapest City, Budapest. Connect with us at our presentation or request a meeting below: Experiences of Utilizing the BOIN12 Method for Designing Rare/Small Population Oncology TrialsGiles Partington, Consultant Statistician13 November 2026

Technologytechnology

PHUSE EU Connect 2026

February 4th, 2026 1 minute read

Phastar is excited to be attending PHUSE EU Connect, 15 – 18 November in Glasgow, Scotland Connect with us or visit our booth to learn more about our solutions.

Technologytechnology

Why SDTM Standards Matter for Sponsors: Laying the Foundation for Regulatory Success 

January 5th, 2026 3 minute read

Introduction  In today’s data-driven clinical research environment, regulatory authorities expect structured, traceable, and high-quality data submissions. The Study Data Tabulation Model (SDTM) has become the global standard for achieving this. Since 2016, submission of clinical data in SDTM format has been mandatory for most regulatory authorities, including the FDA, PMDA, and NMPA.  For sponsors, this […]

Data sciencedata-science

Utilizing Tech Tools to Accelerate Drug Development

November 6th, 2025 1 minute read

The adoption of advanced technological tools in clinical trials is accelerating as sponsors seek faster insights, stronger compliance, and improved decision-making. In an article for Applied Clinical Trials, Christian Schmidt, Associate Director at Phastar, explains how combining tech innovation with deep therapeutic expertise can transform complex trial data into clear, actionable intelligence. ”Customizable tools can […]

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Delivering an Integrated Summary of Safety: Resolving Data Inconsistencies and Complex Derivations to Support Regulatory Submission 

October 22nd, 2025 1 minute read

Phastar supported a sponsor in preparing an Integrated Summary of Safety (ISS) for an investigational drug in sickle cell disease, pooling data from three studies: two Phase 3 randomized trials (single- and multiple-dose) and one open-label extension.  Key Challenges:  Our Approach: 

Thought leadershipthought-leadership

Common Challenges in ISS and ISE Delivery, and How to Overcome Them 

October 13th, 2025 3 minute read

Introduction  Integrated Summaries of Safety (ISS) and Effectiveness (ISE) bring together data from across clinical trials to give regulators a clear picture of a treatment’s risk and benefit profile. While the Common Technical Document (CTD) format provides clinical summaries of efficacy and safety (SCE and SCS), US regulations still require detailed ISE and ISS documents, […]

Regulatory Affairsregulatory-affairs

Preparing an Integrated Safety Summary (ISS): Why Expertise and Planning Matter 

September 22nd, 2025 3 minute read

Introduction   When preparing a regulatory submission, one of the most critical components is the Integrated Safety Summary (ISS). Far from being a simple aggregation of safety data, the ISS is a detailed and carefully constructed analysis that provides regulators with a complete picture of a product’s safety profile across clinical trials. This blog explores […]

Thought leadershipthought-leadership

Accelerating Clinical Data Review: Addressing Fragmentation, Improving Collaboration, and Reducing Review Cycle Times by 35% 

June 4th, 2025 1 minute read

If your clinical data review process feels slow, fragmented, or error-prone, this case study shows how Phastar and Beaconcure cut review cycle times by over 35%. Learn how a centralized platform can: Whether you’re a sponsor, CRO, or data manager, this is essential reading to modernize your review workflows and accelerate trial timelines. Complete the […]

Thought leadershipthought-leadership

How to Use the Power of Network Meta-Analysis (NMA) in Clinical Research 

May 2nd, 2025 4 minute read

Introduction  In clinical research, selecting the most effective treatment can be challenging, especially when multiple options exist but direct head-to-head comparisons are limited. Network Meta-Analysis (NMA) is a powerful statistical technique that helps overcome this challenge by integrating both direct and indirect evidence to compare multiple treatments simultaneously.  This blog will introduce what NMA is, […]

Phastarphastar

Phastar Secures Finalist Spot at 2025 Citeline Awards 

April 10th, 2025 3 minute read

London, UK, and Durham (NC), US – April 10th, 2025: Phastar, a global specialist biometrics & data science Contract Research Organization (CRO), has been shortlisted in ‘CRO Partnership of the Year’ category at the 2025 Citeline Awards for its collaboration with Medicines Development for Global Health (MDGH), a not for profit pharmaceutical company dedicated to […]

Technologytechnology

Unlock the Power of Real-World Evidence in Clinical Research

February 25th, 2025 1 minute read

Discover how Real-World Evidence (RWE) is revolutionizing drug development and clinical decision-making in our latest whitepaper.  What You’ll Learn:  Featuring a Real-World Case Study with AstraZeneca:  Explore how our partnership with AstraZeneca harnessed machine learning and RWE to transform treatment decision-making for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).  This whitepaper is essential for clinical researchers, pharmaceutical […]

Thought leadershipthought-leadership

 The Industry’s AI Future

January 15th, 2025 1 minute read

Graham Clark, CEO at Phastar, spoke to PharmaVoice with his predictions on how AI and data science solutions will further transform the business of drug discovery and development this year. ”As AI, big data and digital health technologies become essential for trial design and patient recruitment, the demand for analytical and technical skills will likely […]

Thought leadershipthought-leadership

Phastar Scoops Prestigious 2024 Scrip Award

December 9th, 2024 2 minute read

London, UK, and Durham (NC), US – December 9th, 2024: Phastar, a global specialist biometrics contract research organization (CRO), has won the Best CRO – Specialist Providers category at the 2024 Scrip Awards. Presented at Raffles London at the OWO on Wednesday, December 4th, Phastar was recognized for its high-quality, specialized biometrics solutions, advanced clinical […]

Thought leadershipthought-leadership

Implementing Additional Medidata Solutions

February 27th, 2024 1 minute read

Slides created by: Carly Baker, Director, Clinical Data Operations, and Kat Fogden, Principal Data Operations Programmer | Phastar Complete the form below to download the slides

Thought leadershipthought-leadership

Reviewing and Updating the Statistical Analysis Plan and Creating Mock Shells as Part of the Phastar CARES Scheme

February 19th, 2024 4 minute read

Phastar is providing pro-bono support to Medicines Development for Global Health (MDGH) as part of its Phastar CARES scheme. Phastar’s biometrics experts supported the statistical analysis plan (SAP) updates for two related studies on the treatment of onchocerciasis. Study details MDGH, a not for profit biopharmaceutical organization developing medicines for neglected diseases primarily affecting people […]

Data programmingdata-programming

Season’s Greetings from Phastar’s 2023 SAS Art Competition Winner!

December 14th, 2023 3 minute read

Season’s Greetings from the Phastar team! Each year Phastar holds an internal competition among its programmers to create a work of festive art, using only their imagination and SAS software! If you’d like to see how it all works , find the SAS code below: data xmas;%annomac;length style $200;vpos = 100;hpos = 105; green = […]

Phastarphastar

Phase III Asthma Study

January 10th, 2023 1 minute read

Phastar was engaged to rescue another CROs reporting of a large phase III study in mild asthmatics to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the experimental compound. With a primary objective to prove superiority in asthma control, analyses consisted of a complex primary endpoint and a broad range of secondary endpoints which are typically observed […]

Data programmingdata-programming

A Programmer’s View on IDMCs

May 12th, 2021 5 minute read

Introduction An IDMC (sometimes known as a DMC/DMEC/DSMB) is an Independent Data Monitoring Committee, whose role it is to monitor the conduct of a clinical trial, to ensure the safety of its participants and the scientific integrity of the study. By periodically reviewing the accumulating safety, and sometimes efficacy data, the IDMC will make recommendations […]

Data programmingdata-programming

Introduction to Handling Efficacy Data in CDISC Standard Datasets

March 17th, 2021 1 minute read

Presented by: Kate Booth | Phastar Complete the form below to watch the webinar

Thought leadershipthought-leadership

Integrated Summary of Safety – Complexities, Communication and Completion

January 25th, 2021 1 minute read

Phastar was contracted to assist a pharmaceutical company with the conversion of 16 legacy studies to SDTM (2 SDTM “Like” phase II studies, 14 Legacy Phase I studies) and with the pooling and reporting activities of their Integrated Summary of Safety (ISS) for a regulatory submission. It has been quite a challenging project but one […]

Data programmingdata-programming

Clearing the Fog: An introduction to LOINC codes

September 18th, 2020 1 minute read

Presented by: Jordan Bristow | Phastar Complete the form below to watch the webinar

Thought leadershipthought-leadership

ADaM Datasets – Why do we Produce Them?

August 28th, 2020 1 minute read

Presented by: Kate Booth | Phastar Complete the form below to watch the webinar

Thought leadershipthought-leadership

ISS/ISE Package

August 11th, 2020 1 minute read

Phastar was contracted to assist a global pharmaceutical company with their integrated summary of safety and efficacy for a regulatory submission. The work started with assisting the sponsor in defining an integration strategy for approximately 20 phase I studies, six phase II studies and their corresponding extension as well as three phase III studies and […]

Data programmingdata-programming

Phase I-II Oncology Study

August 11th, 2020 2 minute read

Case study PHASTAR was engaged to report a phase I/II oncology study in advanced NSCLC with an initial phase I escalation followed by a phase II expansion. The objectives covered defining the maximum tolerated dose and having a preliminary assessment of efficacy using RECIST 1.1 as well as PK/PD endpoints. For this study, PHASTAR was […]

Data programmingdata-programming

Functional Service Provision

August 3rd, 2020 1 minute read

Phastar has a number of sponsor relationships where we provide teams of statisticians and statistical programmers to complement the internal teams within medium and large pharma companies. For example, we provide a large integrated production team of statisticians and statistical programmers to a large global pharmaceutical company. The Phastar staff primarily work from our offices […]

Data programmingdata-programming

From Practical Maths to Superstar Stats – Zoe’s Story

February 14th, 2020 5 minute read

I started out my university experience by going to Dundee to study mathematics, this was mainly a theoretical degree with the occasional statistic module in the first two years. Once I was in my fourth year, I decided I wanted to focus on the more practical aspect of mathematics. After looking around I found this […]

Phastarphastar

Phastar Graduate Programme – Lisa’s story

January 10th, 2020 5 minute read

Starting a career in industry can be a daunting experience at any time of life, but especially when it is your first full time job. Going from being a full-time student and enjoying the student life is very different to experiencing the 9-5 day job. From my time so far, I believe that the first […]

Phastarphastar

Data Visualization: Customized Graphics and Combining Outputs

May 24th, 2019 3 minute read

It has become easier to produce customised graphics in SAS and to produce reports that combine outputs from several different procedures. This means that refined outputs can be produced that allow more targeted monitoring of individual patients and populations of patients. Customized Graphics There is now a range of graphical elements that allow graphs in […]

Data sciencedata-science

Adaptive Trial Design: A Programmer’s View

February 15th, 2019 4 minute read

The FDA defines an adaptive design as …an adaptive design is defined as a clinical trial design that allows for prospectively planned modifications to one or more aspects of the design based on accumulating data from subjects in the trial1. The most common adaptations of the trial design which impact on programming are: Phastar’s extensive […]

Data programmingdata-programming

Quality Deliverables – Phastar’s Programming Perspective

January 3rd, 2018 3 minute read

Quality is paramount to all programming work carried out at Phastar to ensure accurate reporting and analysis of clinical trials. In order to maintain our high standards, we have SOPs and Work Instructions that detail our standardised internal processes for SAS programming and QC across studies and sites. Other resources available to staff include our […]

Data programmingdata-programming

Programming Issues in Oncology Trials

August 30th, 2016 3 minute read

Oncology trials are complex and require a different approach to trials compared with many other therapeutic areas and can generate significant programming challenges. Oncology can be associated with fast developing disease and short survival times. Due to the fact that many oncology trials are event-driven, the timelines and resources are regularly reviewed and updated. In […]