In a significant move to modernize clinical trial operations, ImmunityBio has announced a partnership with cloud software provider nCartes to automate and streamline clinical trial data collection processes. The collaboration marks a departure from traditional manual data entry methods, introducing an automated system that directly transfers information from electronic medical records (EMR) to electronic data capture (EDC) systems.
The current landscape of clinical trial data collection relies heavily on manual processes, where research sites must individually input information into EDC systems. This approach has long been associated with increased costs, potential errors, and significant time delays in trial completion.
Transforming Data Collection Efficiency
The new automated system will enable direct population of EDC systems with digital information from source EMR systems. This technological advancement is expected to deliver multiple benefits:
- Reduction in data entry errors
- Decreased verification time for source information
- Lower operational costs
- Improved overall data quality
- Accelerated trial completion timelines
Richard Adcock, CEO and president of ImmunityBio, emphasized the strategic importance of this partnership: "ImmunityBio's innovations in immunotherapies for cancer and infectious diseases depend on getting timely and accurate data from our many ongoing clinical trials. The EMR-to-EDC capability nCartes provides will transform this process, reducing delays and enabling us to potentially bring important therapies to market faster."
Technical Implementation and Impact
nCartes, specializing in cloud software platforms, will provide the technical infrastructure enabling research sponsors and sites to leverage electronic health systems for automated data capture. This system will support both clinical trials and patient registry applications.
"ImmunityBio is doing incredible work with its novel immune system-based therapeutics and vaccines, and has an aggressive clinical trial programme," stated John McIlwain, CEO of nCartes. "The nCartes team is honoured to have this opportunity to work alongside the ImmunityBio team and their research sites to potentially materially improve the crucial data collection aspect of those trials."
Clinical Research Applications
The timing of this partnership is particularly relevant as ImmunityBio continues to advance its clinical trial programs. The company recently initiated the Phase I/II QUILT 502 trial, investigating ANKTIVA (nogapendekin alfa inbakicept-pmln) in combination with AdHER2DC vaccine for patients with HER2-expressing endometrial cancer. The new automated data collection system is expected to significantly enhance the efficiency of such trials.
This technological advancement represents a broader trend in the clinical research industry toward digital transformation, potentially setting a new standard for data management in clinical trials. The success of this partnership could serve as a model for future collaborations between pharmaceutical companies and technology providers, ultimately accelerating the development of new therapeutic options for patients.
