Sarah Cannon Research Institute Partners with Pfizer to Accelerate Community-Based Oncology Trials
Key Insights
Sarah Cannon Research Institute (search) announced a strategic collaboration with Pfizer to advance oncology drug development through their Accelero clinical trial delivery model.
The partnership has demonstrated significant operational improvements, achieving a 47% reduction in study activation timelines and 57% faster patient enrollment compared to historical performance.
SCRI's community-based approach aims to expand patient access to innovative cancer therapies while streamlining trial operations and reducing burden on investigators and care teams.
Sarah Cannon Research Institute (search) (SCRI), one of the world's leading oncology research organizations, has announced a strategic collaboration with Pfizer Inc. to accelerate the development of Pfizer's oncology portfolio through a science-driven and scaled research program designed to bring promising therapies to patients faster and closer to home.
Accelero Model Drives Operational Excellence
Central to the collaboration is SCRI's Accelero™, a next-generation clinical trial delivery model designed to accelerate oncology drug development and expand patient access to innovative therapies in the community setting. By leveraging Accelero in this collaboration, SCRI and Pfizer aim to streamline trial operations, enhance site efficiency, and reduce burden for investigators and care teams.
The partnership has already demonstrated significant operational improvements. SCRI has achieved a 47% reduction in study activation timelines, enrolling the first patients 57% faster through Accelero compared to historical performance. The collaboration initially began with three studies utilizing the Accelero model, which quickly expanded to more than ten studies, enabling faster study start-up, improved execution, and the efficient delivery of promising therapies to patients closer to home.
Strategic Integration and Real-World Data Application
SCRI physicians and clinical experts provide strategic guidance across Pfizer's oncology portfolio using real-world data to inform study design, clinical strategy, and digitally enabled approaches to research execution. By engaging early in protocol development, SCRI ensures innovative approaches align with operational feasibility and support shared goals for speed, quality, enrollment, and patient access.
"This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to advance novel oncology therapies by conducting community-based research with scientific rigor," said Dee Anna Smith, chief executive officer, SCRI. "By combining Pfizer's innovation with SCRI's integrated research infrastructure and broad U.S. patient access, we can execute trials more efficiently, accelerate enrollment, and bring better treatment options to patients faster."
Expanding Community Access to Cancer Research
The partnership focuses on making oncology clinical studies more accessible in local communities, addressing a critical need for expanded patient access to experimental therapies. SCRI's community-based approach allows patients to participate in cutting-edge research without traveling to major academic medical centers.
"Pfizer is focused on advancing breakthroughs that have the potential to change patients' lives," said Kamran Ansari, head of clinical development & operations, Pfizer. "By partnering with SCRI and leveraging their expertise, we have the opportunity to enhance recruitment and make our oncology clinical studies more accessible in local communities, with the goal of accelerating access to potential new therapies for people with cancer."
The collaboration represents a significant step toward transforming how oncology clinical trials are conducted, emphasizing efficiency, accessibility, and patient-centered care while maintaining scientific rigor in community-based research settings.