Accelerating the use of technology in clinical research was a resounding theme at this year’s DPHARM conference. This is not a new theme, per say, but the case studies were more expansive than in prior years. For example, large pharmaceutical companies highlighted their use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) through numerous case studies, some of which were used to streamline processes to gain efficiencies and insights on more effective ways to conduct clinical research and refine clinical trial protocol development.
Here are a few more examples and precautions to consider.
AI-Powered Solutions
Many vendor-led sessions highlighted their AI-powered solutions to help sponsors of all sizes better implement clinical studies in the following ways:
Other vendors offered solutions to help with compliance monitoring, data collection, and patient recruitment and retention. While all of this sounds exciting, and it certainly is, several sessions emphasized some other realities that still plague the clinical research community.
These kinds of conversations are ones we continue to have with our clients and colleagues.
AI Concerns Still Remain, Requiring a Balanced Approach
One dominant concern is that despite efforts to develop streamlined protocols that collect only critical and core data, we continue to see more clinical trial protocols with more data requirements upwards of 283% increase in total data points collected. That is a lot! It is yet to be proven if the current AI technologies and pharmaceutical initiatives will help to reverse this trend in the coming years.
The second reality impacting both sites and patients is what was referred to, by numerous speakers, as the “shiny new app.” Meaning, sponsors, whether to collect more data or in an ill-fated attempt to make things easier for sites and patients, add the use of new technology to their studies, causing increased site and patient burden. This was noted in both anecdotal accounts and in research conducted by the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development, as presented during the conference.
Keeping the patient top of mind and remembering how impactful research can be for them and their community was how the conference opened, spoken by a former sickle cell disease patient. They later emphasized how experimental treatment had completely and positively changed their life.
In summary, the conference highlighted many exciting technology and AI advancements for use in clinical research, providing a balanced look at both opportunities and precautions, so we don’t lose focus on the patient and our other internal stakeholders, including site staff.
For more insights on AI and clinical operations, click here to read more.