Wilmington-based Trial Management Associates is working to play a role in advancing more treatments through its clinical trials with a trial therapy for RSV, according to a news release. 

Trial Management Associates (TMA), a clinical research management company that has an integrated site network in Wilmington, is gearing up for an influx of trials to bring new therapies to market, officials said in the release.

The company is conducting trials in therapies for the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which doesn't have an approved vaccine, stated the release.

A large pharmaceutical company is conducting the research; however, TMA officials could not disclose the name of the company due to confidentiality agreements, said Evan Lucas, site pharmacist at TMA, in an email Monday.

TMA is looking to offer around 250 people the opportunity to participate in the study, with enrollment starting at the end of August, he said.

"Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a common respiratory condition that presents with cold-like symptoms including runny nose, coughing, sneezing and fever," stated the release. "According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), more than 144,000 individuals are hospitalized due to RSV and more than 14,000 die due to RSV complications each year."

TMA is seeking volunteers ages 60 and older for the RSV trials as well as volunteers ages 18 and older for additional clinical trial opportunities. All patients will be compensated for their time and travel.

"There will be additional forthcoming studies for other conditions. We can't disclose exactly what they are yet but the important takeaway is that TMA is constantly offering the Cape Fear area opportunities to participate in multiple studies of cutting-edge therapies for conditions that are relevant to our community," Lucas said.

TMA has developed several new areas to expand service offerings to sponsors and CROs including the ability to conduct peripheral blood mononuclear cell testing, Lucas said. This allows drug developers the ability to see whether the therapy is providing the anticipated immune response. 

“The Wilmington community went above and beyond over the last year and is continuing to help advance new therapies through clinical trials,” Phil Dattilo, president of TMA, said in the release. “Now we have the opportunity to expand vaccines and therapies into unmet needs such as flu, RSV, mononucleosis and shingles. RSV will be in the forefront in 2021 and 2022, and TMA will need volunteers over the age of 60.”

The company currently has 17 employees and is using four locations in Wilmington covering family medicine, vaccines, gastroenterology, dermatology and infectious diseases.

"TMA has been fortunate to be involved in conducting clinical trials during an unprecedented time in research history. In 2020, TMA conducted eight COVID vaccine trials starting in 2019 and continuing through 2021," Lucas said in his email. "TMA has been able to use the COVID trials as a catalyst to move into other areas of research such as RSV."