WELL Health Technologies Corp. and HEALWELL AI Inc. have announced an expansion of their strategic alliance to develop an AI-enhanced clinical trials program. This multi-year agreement will enable the launch and management of clinical trial sites at WELL Health clinic locations throughout Canada, leveraging HEALWELL's Contract Research Organization (CRO) capabilities and WELL Health's extensive clinic network.
AI-Driven Clinical Trial Innovation
The partnership aims to transform the clinical research landscape by offering an end-to-end, vertically integrated service. This includes patient identification and recruitment, clinical trial architecture and execution, and clinical research data analysis. By integrating WELL Health Diagnostic Centres (WHDC) and its specialty care patient roster, the collaboration can leverage patient data to enhance research, particularly in cardiovascular disease and its co-morbidities.
Dr. Michael Frankel, Chief Medical Officer of WELL, stated, "Launching and managing clinical trial sites at WELL's clinic locations across Canada is a powerful and transformational strategic initiative. This initiative will allow WELL and HEALWELL AI to capitalize on their combined strengths in healthcare infrastructure and AI technology, potentially transforming the landscape for clinical research."
Strategic Benefits of the Partnership
- Increased Access to Clinical Trials: WELL's network of over 180 primary and specialty clinics nationwide will provide patients across Canada with more convenient access to clinical trials. This expansive reach supports recruitment for a wide array of clinical trial programs, from common therapeutic areas to specialized conditions. HEALWELL focuses on recruiting niche patient populations, including those with rare diseases, specific genetic profiles, or unique demographic backgrounds.
- Enhanced Efficiency with AI-Driven Solutions: HEALWELL's AI and data science capabilities are expected to streamline trial processes, from patient recruitment to data analysis. AI-driven tools will help identify eligible participants, predict outcomes, and reduce trial duration by automating data collection and analysis, making the process more efficient and cost-effective.
- Strengthened Position in Healthcare Innovation: By establishing a unique niche in AI-enhanced clinical trials, WELL and HEALWELL aim to position themselves as leaders in digital healthcare solutions for research. These efforts will enhance partnerships with pharmaceutical companies and research institutions seeking to leverage AI for trial optimizations.
- Data-Driven Insights for Future Innovations: Operating clinical trials at scale will generate valuable real-world data that can inform future healthcare innovations, supporting HEALWELL AI's goal to enhance disease detection and preventative care tools.
Dr. Alexander Dobranowski, CEO of HEALWELL, commented, "Patient identification and recruitment for clinical trials has become an increasingly complex challenge... Through our established late stage CRO, Canadian Phase Onward, HEALWELL has already made significant strides in accelerating the recruitment process, but the growing network of WELL clinics is an opportunity for us to execute our plans at scale."
