Knowledge Center

We at Medable are often asked in webinars, requests for proposals (RFPs), tradeshows, etc. just how exactly eCOAs and ePROs foster better patient compliance with submitting data. 

Since you asked, our answer is below, courtesy of Jessica Dolfi, VP of Solution Consulting. 

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What is the path to addressing the remaining 10,000 human diseases? 

Almost two years ago, Medable CEO Michelle Longmire asked this question in a blog titled “Accelerating the path from possibility to proof in the development of new medicines.” Back then, she wrote that leveraging the most meaningful tools we had at the time would drive new synergies at the intersection of safety, science, and speed and enable a new era of drug development.

Today, our industry stands at the precipice of a new era in clinical research, marked by rapid advancements in technologies that society widely refers to as artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI and ML). While each of these technologies has existed for some time, recent advancements in their capabilities have brought them to the forefront of our industry.

In the future, AI and ML may prove to be the most important technologies of our time, as they have the potential to enable true scalability in pharma, as well as other business sectors.

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When we think about clinical trials, our minds often gravitate toward the scientific intricacies of these studies - the testing of new treatments, data analysis, and the quest for medical breakthroughs. However, it's essential to remember that behind every clinical trial, there's a patient, and often a caregiver, whose life is deeply impacted by this journey. 

So, let’s consider this: the concept of "Participation-Life Balance" and how technology can enhance the design and workflow of clinical trials while acknowledging the holistic needs of patients and caregivers to work towards achieving this. 

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A pharmaceutical contract research organization (CRO) expressed concerns about the timing and availability of seizure diaries for patients enrolled in their rare disease study. 

They wanted to understand when patients should be prompted to complete the diaries and how they could improve the process to better accommodate caregivers' and patients' needs to  produce better trial data.

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A top 10 pharmaceutical company approached Medable seeking support for their PhaseIII diabetes study in the highly competitive weight loss market. Their primary goal was toreduce the client’s average study build timelines from 16-20 weeks, down to just 8 weeks,a reduction of more than 50%.

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See how Medable was able to meet the customer's goal with this case study.

A top 10 pharmaceutical company approached Medable seeking support for their Phase III diabetes study. Their primary goal was to reduce the participant enrollment phase timeline to get the study underway as quickly as possible.

Deployment of remote and virtual clinical trial methods and technologies, referred to collectively as decentralized clinical trials (DCTs), represents a profound shift in clinical trial practice. To our knowledge, a comprehensive assessment of the financial net benefits of DCTs has not been conducted

Research looking at mobile apps and how they may provide a meaningful access point for all stakeholders for symptom management.

There’s little doubt that 2023 will be remembered as the breakout year for generative artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) within both tech and pharma. Much like the surge in digital and decentralized trials in 2020, AI and ML have sparked a paradigm shift in what is possible in the development of drugs and treatments. 

With the FDA’s recent publications providing a future framework, sponsors and CROs everywhere are researching how best to bolster drug development. With all these advancements happening at an unprecedented pace, we’re providing an overview of the uses of AI and ML in clinical conduct below.

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Mobile health technology, like medical-grade wearabledevices, can transform patient monitoring by enabling the collection of newtypes of data and better accuracy of patient responses. This tech can increaseaccessibility of trials for patients and even increase diversity and reducepatient burden by removing geographical and travel barriers.

As a result of these myriad benefits, we’ve seen theincreasing inclusion and acceptance of wearable devices throughout clinicaltrials. Here, we’ll dive into the specifics of these helpful tools and theirimpact on the future of medicine.

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In a decentralized clinical trial, part or all of the protocol occurs away from the primary study site. Instead of patients traveling, often repeatedly, to a central site for enrollment, consent, data collection or symptom monitoring, they can participate in telehealth visits from their homes, often using familiar technologies, like smartphones, tablets and wearables to transmit pertinent information. Even medications and devices can increasingly be delivered directly to a patient’s home, and a home visit from a health care professional can be arranged if necessary. 

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