NorthWest EHealth (NWEH) has partnered with the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) to launch a pilot program aimed at revolutionizing clinical trial recruitment in the UK. This collaboration seeks to address long-standing challenges in participant enrollment, leveraging innovative technology to enhance the speed, efficiency, and inclusivity of clinical research.
Addressing Recruitment Hurdles
Clinical trial recruitment is a critical bottleneck, with approximately 80% of trials failing due to recruitment challenges, according to NWEH CEO Jonathan Wogel. The pilot program integrates CPRD’s extensive anonymized patient data with NWEH’s FARSITE platform to pinpoint and engage suitable participants more effectively. FARSITE, a technology platform developed by NWEH, allows for the search of anonymized primary care records in near-real-time, significantly reducing the time required for feasibility studies and participant identification.
Professor Martin Gibson, chief medical officer for NWEH, emphasized the importance of primary care research, stating, "The O'Shaughnessy Review's focus on the need for better primary care research, particularly in a commercial way, resonated with us at NWEH, this being at the core of our business." The pilot aims to demonstrate that integrating digital platforms and AI within primary care can streamline clinical trial design, reduce approval times, and support decentralized trials.
Innovative Approach
The collaboration between NWEH and CPRD focuses on leveraging data to overcome traditional recruitment barriers. By using CPRD's database of 18 million anonymized patient records, accessed securely through FARSITE, the program aims to significantly expand the reach and efficiency of participant recruitment. This approach not only speeds up the recruitment process but also ensures trials are more inclusive and representative of the broader population.
Enhancing Diversity and Inclusivity
NWEH is committed to driving inclusivity and diversity in clinical trials by leveraging anonymized electronic health records to cast a broad recruitment funnel. Jonathan Wogel noted that historically, clinical trial participants have been predominantly white males, and the industry now recognizes the importance of reflecting the actual demographics of the patients needing treatment. By ensuring new medicines are tested on diverse populations, drug developers can gain deeper insights into efficacy and safety, leading to more appropriate drug labeling and better patient outcomes.
Scalability and Future Impact
The pilot program is designed to be scalable and applicable beyond the UK. According to Professor Gibson, NWEH’s software tools can work wherever there is coded information, including the US and Europe, because most medical data around the world is coded in a similar way. The success of this pilot could pave the way for a new standard in evidence-based medicine generation, demonstrating the benefits of strong public-private partnerships in driving healthcare innovation.
Streamlining Processes for Global Competitiveness
Addressing bottlenecks in contract reviews is another critical aspect of enhancing the UK's competitiveness in clinical trials. Professor Gibson highlighted the government's investment in the MHRA to unblock studies stuck in the system and the implementation of a national contract review process to streamline negotiations and contracting. These efforts aim to ensure the UK remains competitive with other parts of the world in setting up trials, ultimately benefiting life sciences companies and patients alike.
