IBM Watson Health has developed a new cloud-based technology aimed at helping researchers design clinical trials more efficiently, the healthcare technology company announced Feb. 18.
The Study Advance platform provides direct access to de-identified commercial and claims data from about 89 million patient profiles, allowing for the inclusion of more widely representative patient populations in clinical trials. It also guides researchers through the study design process to reduce the number of needed protocol changes down the line.
"Currently, 80 percent of trials experience delays in recruiting and one out of four amendments were considered completely avoidable," Rob DiCicco, PharmD, the company's deputy chief health officer, said in the announcement. "Breakdowns in the clinical trial process, including issues caused by study design decisions, may potentially delay access to life-changing therapies for patients. IBM Study Advance aims to remove the barriers in clinical development to help researchers efficiently bring necessary therapies to patients."
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