Patient Services for a Phase III Mantle Cell Lymphoma trial
Providing global reimbursement, stipend and travel support services to patients and caregivers participating in Russia, Ukraine, Hungary, France, Greece, and Poland.
The Challenge
Mantle Cell Lymphoma is a rare, aggressive type of B-cell Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), affecting only 5–10% of NHL patients, primarily men over 50. Recruiting and retaining these patients in clinical trials is especially difficult, and without effective support, there is a significant risk of missed visits, disrupted timelines, and compromised data.
Geographical Barriers
Many of the patients identified by sites as candidates for this study faced geographical barriers to attending visits at the study site. Patients who reside in rural areas or do not have access to transportation would have difficulty attending study visits and maintaining and participating in critical study activities and endpoints, as they relate to the study visit schedule.
Health Challenges
Most patients are not well enough to attend study visits alone, therefore require caregiver or legal guardian support. The COVID-19 pandemic created even more challenges, as this subset of patients falls under the ‘high risk’ category. Symptoms of this disease include fever, nausea/vomiting, loss of appetite and weight, pressure or pain in the lower back, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes that can make travel difficult and often uncomfortable.
Patient Enrolment
Given the rarity of Mantle Cell Lymphoma, every patient mattered. Identifying participants was difficult enough, and ensuring their retention through completion was critical to study success.
The Solution
To overcome these challenges, mdgroup delivered a seamless, patient-first service integrating travel, stipends, and patient reimbursement in clinical trials:
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Human connection: Patient communications delivered in local languages by our multilingual teams in Russia, the UK, and the US.
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Quality: Comfortable, safe, and flexible travel arrangements tailored to each patient’s health and mobility needs.
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Agility: In-house travel consultants managed last-minute itinerary changes and supported site transfers to imaging labs.
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Efficiency: Direct payments to taxi companies in France reduced site burden and administrative overhead.
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Ingenuity: Swift stipends and patient reimbursement in clinical trials via reloadable Mastercard or local bank transfer, allowing patients and caregivers to focus on participation rather than expenses.
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Flexibility: For countries such as Greece, we provided advance stipends so patients never had to worry about financial constraints when attending appointments.
The Outcome
Even during a global pandemic, patients arrived safely, on time, and did not miss a single scheduled visit. Our personalized approach reduced strain on patients and caregivers while also lowering the administrative burden on sites.
Patients reported feeling cared for, respected, and financially supported throughout their journey. Caregivers could also access stipends and reimbursement, ensuring families were not out of pocket while enabling full trial participation.
Sponsors benefited from:
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Zero missed patient visits despite complex logistics and COVID-19 restrictions
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Improved retention for a rare disease population where every participant is critical
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Reduced site burden through direct payments and centralized reimbursement support
This case study demonstrates how patient reimbursement in clinical trials, combined with tailored travel and stipend solutions, is central to retention, recruitment, and overall study success.
Want to keep patients engaged and your trial on track?
mdgroup specializes in personalized patient services, including global travel, stipends, and patient reimbursement, to ensure seamless participation.
Partner with us to deliver remarkable patient experiences that improve retention, reduce site burden, and protect the integrity of your trial.
Get in touch to see how we can support your patients and boost the success of your clinical trial.
