In the June 2020 issue of PharmaVOICE that showcases clinical trial solutions, I wrote an article about how the pandemic has catalyzed our industry around Remote Monitoring.
Forced to pivot immediately in order to fight a new condition—while continuing to run trials already in progress prior to lockdown—the FDA, pharma companies, and technology providers have all promoted remote Monitoring as the best strategic move for effective clinical trial oversight.
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I encourage you to read the whole piece in PharmaVOICE, and my thoughts in the companion eBook on the future of clinical trials, but I’ll give you some of the highlights here.
Remote Monitoring Is Good Clinical Practice
Using monitors to physically visit clinical trial sites has always been a cumbersome, time consuming, and resource-draining proposition.
Years ago, site visits may have been the best way to review CRF data, capture adverse events, and ensure proper protocol deployment, but today state-of-the-art data analytics and AI-powered clinical applications can track key performance indicators (KPIs) and key risk indicators (KRIs) at every stage.
Near-real time Remote Monitoring Capabilities, combined with sensor and wearable data, offer greater advantages than having patients complete monthly diaries in site parking lots. COVID-19 has enabled clinical trials to peer into the future and see how promising these digital technologies really are, and there is no turning back.
Remote Monitoring Benefits
The remarkable ability and agility that has been demonstrated by biopharma in pursuit of COVID-19 treatments and cures, all while maintaining critical clinical research for other conditions, can be attributed in great measure to increasingly nimble adoption of data analytics capabilities like remote monitoring.
Going digital is enabling sites and sponsors to share information and achieve successful virtual collaboration.
Remote Monitoring Capabilities
Life sciences companies investing in and adopting remote monitoring capabilities are making a wise and strategic investment that will reduce risk, improve data quality, increase patient safety, save money, and ensure the future viability of their clinical research programs.
Although hastened by the pandemic, it is likely that this “new normal” of remote trial monitoring will be with us long after COVID-19 is defeated.
