What is a MAMS Trial?

A ‘multi-arm, multi-stage’ (MAMS) trial is an exciting new way to test treatments. MAMS trials test different treatments at the same time, in separate treatment groups. The treatments will be compared against a dummy drug (‘placebo’).

The treatments are checked at early stages to see if they appear to be working. Treatments that do appear to be working will keep going to the next testing stage (multi-stage), whilst treatments that do not appear to be working will be ended early.

This trial design also allows us to add new treatments in new treatment groups whilst the trial is ongoing, rather than needing to set up a new trial. This means that in one trial, we can get answers about many different treatments. This approach needs fewer participants, is cost-effective and faster compared to running multiple individual trials.

This diagram shows what the EJS ACT-PD study design looks like and when we expect each testing stage to happen, should each treatment continue to the end of the study.

Please note that:

• the image shows the full study length from opening to reporting the results. Each participant will only take part for a maximum of 36 months.

• the treatments shown in this image may end early if they do not pass the checks at each testing stage.

You can read more about MAMS Trials at the MRC CTU by visiting this page.