By Renee Orcione, MRA Digital Engagement & Communications Manager

All treatments and medications currently available in melanoma first went through clinical trials. Today, there are nearly 600 melanoma clinical trials looking for patients to enroll.

In an effort to empower and assist melanoma patients in their clinical trial search, MRA first joined forces with Antidote in 2017 to provide a streamlined, easy-to-use clinical trial search tool for patients and caregivers. Using the Clinical Trial Navigator, patients can answer a few questions about their health to be matched to trials. Recently, we launched a major update to the tool with enhancements to make searches more patient-centric, especially for individuals who are impacted by rare melanoma subtypes and those seeking systemic therapy at earlier stages of disease.

These new platform enhancements include:

  • a user flow tailored to individual responses,

  • expanded capabilities addressing questions about rare melanoma subtypes,

  • inquiries about previous and forthcoming treatments and therapies,

  • and nuanced input options for individuals in earlier disease stages.

This collaboration underscores Antidote and MRA’s unwavering commitment to improving the clinical trial search experience for those impacted by melanoma. By prioritizing user-centric design and functionality, the Clinical Trial Navigator aims to make the process of finding relevant clinical trials more efficient and tailors the experience to the specific needs of patients and their care providers.

“We have seen incredible progress over the last decade with 17 new drugs receiving FDA approval in melanoma, changing what it means to be diagnosed with and treated for this disease...”

“None of that progress is possible, however, without the patients who enroll in clinical trials,” said Dr. Marc Hurlbert, MRA CEO.

“As always, there is still more research to be done for those who do not benefit from the latest advances. We are thrilled to announce these improvements to Antidote Match and remain committed to being a guiding source of information for patients and caregivers seeking cutting edge clinical trials.”

When patients understand all of their options, including clinical trials, they can make informed decisions about their care. For many patients, clinical trials represent the best possible way to get access to cutting-edge treatment options.

Read the joint Press Release announcing the recent updates.

Patients and caregivers can now visit curemelanoma.org/clinicaltrials to answer curated questions and be matched to trials for which they or the loved one they care for may be eligible.

This post was originally published March 26, 2024, by the Melanoma Research Alliance. It is republished with permission.