Clinical trials have increasingly become expensive endeavors, increasing the overall cost of developing a drug and, ultimately, the price that patients pay for drugs. Big pharma and clinical research organization alike are looking for innovative ways to improve Veristat trial outcomes and, as a result, lower trial costs — this includes enhancing the efficiency with which patients are recruited, constantly monitoring how drugs are supplied, and being more flexible with trial design. Here are some of the tools that are now being used to optimize clinical trials:

Patient-centeredness

Patient centricity has undeniably been one of the industry’s major buzzwords in recent years. This focus point is still being studied in clinical trials. Patients are becoming more involved in all aspects of their clinical trials by leveraging their internet knowledge and the growing influence of advocacy groups. At the same time, patients are forming more support groups to discuss their disease and available treatments. What’s more, these support groups frequently last beyond the trial. That means, these patients’ and groups’ insights can help pharma adjust patient protocols to better suit real-world conditions and improve patients’ quality of life.

Automated site supplies

Some pharmaceutical and biotech firms have started to use computer-controlled supply tools to automate drug dispensing and oversee site inventories. The approach is becoming more prevalent because it reduces wastage and makes it possible for companies to better control the dose of medication that a patient uses.

Using technology

Mobile devices aren’t just for Instagram and texting. As consumers become more accustomed to using their mobile phones for everything from internet banking to online shopping, they are also becoming more comfortable sharing health information via mobile devices. Mobile messaging is being used by pharmaceutical and biotech companies to increase patient recruitment before trials and then to keep patients on track during clinical trials. Today, there are companies that have demonstrated that using mobile platforms increases patient recruitment by 30 percent while also lowering trial costs. Patients can also use mobile apps to set reminders for when to take medications, and even to receive instructions.

Adaptive trials with biomarker

Trial times are reduced, and patient safety is improved provided you prepare for your trials. You’ll have less bias and fewer ethical concerns. Particularly when biomarkers are involved. Traditionally, specimens are sent to a lab and investigators wait for the results. However, today, the adaptive design allows investigators to add, drop, or expand trials based on available data. All of this helped speed up the trial’s progress. Also, biomarkers provide new information. When a biomarker is used in a study, the risk of bias is reduced. Some consider adaptive trials to be more ethical because patients have a better chance of receiving effective treatment, speeding up the pace of treatment discovery.

More CROs are collaborating to provide automation and AI-enabled analytics to pharmaceutical companies, allowing them to design clinical trials that can be completed faster, more efficiently, and with better patient outcomes. Pharmaceutical companies can make more informed decisions throughout the clinical trial design lifecycle if they have access to real-world evidence and data from historical clinical trial insights.

Sponsors can reduce the risk of costly interruptions and trial protocol modifications by making informed early in the clinical trial design and planning lifecycle, eventually accelerating the time to develop and bring lifesaving medicines to patients faster.