In the evolving cardiometabolic landscape, obesity continues to be a leading public health challenge. In 2025, the World Obesity Federation reported that the total number of adults living with obesity is projected to increase to 1.13 billion by 2030. While FDA-approved therapeutics have expanded significantly in recent years, the demand for high-quality, reliable clinical trial outcomes is higher than ever to support this rapidly growing patient population. By combining targeted recruitment strategies and proactive retention processes to capture real-world data, DelRicht sets the standard for clinical excellence in the obesity research space.

Surpassing Enrollment Targets

DelRicht Research was selected as a participating site network for a Phase 3 obesity study targeting adults 18 years and older with obesity and at least one weight-related comorbidity such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, sleep apnea, or cardiovascular disease, excluding T2DM. The study aimed to enroll approximately 3,500 patients across 170 sites, making DelRicht’s participating site enrollment goal 20 participants.

Dr. Robert Springer’s site team had a rapid 2-day activation to screening timeline that set the tone for enrollment throughout the study period. In total, the site enrolled 57 participants, 276.7% of the enrollment goal, and maintained a 98.3% retention rate. This level of enrollment volume from a single site reflects DelRicht’s strong recruitment capabilities and the site team’s ability to effectively retain patients within a highly specific population. Marshall Morris, Partner at DelRicht Research commented:

“Enrolling 276.7% of the target goal demonstrates our site’s ability to scale while maintaining strict protocol integrity. Achieving a two-day timeline from activation to screening established momentum that Dr. Springer’s team maintained throughout the trial, proving that speed doesn’t have to come at the expense of clinical excellence.” – Marshall Morris, Partner at DelRicht Research

Challenges & Solutions

One of the trial’s biggest challenges was participant retention. The 98-week study duration combined with a frequent site visit schedule created cumulative patient fatigue, further compounding burden driven by early GI side effects and placebo-arm attrition. Dr. Springer’s site team was able to mitigate these retention hurdles through two key strategies:

1. Proactively educating patients about side effect management and the possibility of receiving a placebo set realistic expectations around study timelines, visit requirements, and overall participation to ensure the study was a good fit for each patient’s lifestyle. Although patients could receive a placebo, site coordinators highlighted the benefits of participation, including ongoing lifestyle and nutritional guidance from trained medical professionals.

2. Optimizing visit scheduling, when possible, tailored to patient lifestyles and needs to ensure long-term retention. During the first visit, coordinators were able to thoroughly brief patients on the study’s visit schedule requirements and address potential scheduling conflicts. The site kept scheduling flexible and created a positive patient experience to minimize visit fatigue.

What This Means for Sponsors and CROs

This study reinforces several key takeaways for sponsors and CROs navigating complex metabolic trials:

•  Rapid start-up timelines can significantly accelerate overall study progress when paired with strong internal coordination.

•  Patient-centered retention strategies that educate and highlight participation benefits ensure reliable compliance and reduce discontinuation in long-term obesity trials.

•  Sites that combine operational rigor with proactive planning consistently outperform expectations.

Dr. Robert Springer and his team showcase how an experienced site can turn protocol complexity into a competitive advantage, delivering both speed and quality at scale.

Partnering in Obesity Research

Developing treatment options for patients struggling with obesity and comorbid conditions requires seamless sponsor, CRO, site network, and community collaboration. From rapid screening timelines to enrolling 276.7% of the enrollment target, DelRicht Research offers the operational precision and clinical leadership required in modern obesity studies.

If you’re seeking a partner who can accelerate timelines and exceed expectations in obesity, T2DM, and beyond, we’d love to connect. Learn more about our capabilities at www.DelRichtResearch.com or reach out to explore partnership opportunities.