WOMEN IN THE NEWS
Taking on Trials
Ramita Tandon to lead Walgreens’ new clinical trial business and address diversity challenges By Hannah Esper
In June, Walgreens announced its plans to launch its own clinical trial business. The goal? To redefine the patient experience and increase patient access and retention in drug development research. At the helm of the new business is Ramita Tandon, who has been building and leading high-performing clinical trial businesses and teams at companies such as Trip Health and ICON. Throughout her 25-year career in health care, Tandon has remained focused on finding innovative ways to partner with biopharmaceutical companies and uncover the patient voice to operate trials more effectively. Clinical trials don’t reflect America’s population. Twenty percent of drugs have a variation in responses across ethnic groups, yet 75% of clinical trial participants are white. And only 11% are Hispanic and fewer than 10% are Black and Asian, according to the Food and Drug Administration. The chief clinical trials officer of the new Walgreens business shared with Drug Store News how her team will make clinical trials more accessible, convenient and equitable. Drug Store News: How will you continue to break down barriers for diverse patient populations? Ramita Tandon: I’m a firm believer that everyone should be educated, empowered and given an opportunity to access cuttingedge therapies that improve their health. However, today’s current clinical trials infrastructure and patient demographics are in crisis. We have an overwhelmingly white trial population in centralized zip codes at larger hospital systems and research centers that produce clinical data that may not be relevant to all patients. At Walgreens, we are looking to redefine the patient experience by making participation in clinical trials more accessible, convenient and equitable for the diverse communities we serve.
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Ramita Tandon, Walgreens
Clinical trials are not only a research path but also a way to get patients in underserved communities into the overall healthcare system. To do so, we have created the ideal blend of technology, personal connection and flexible care capabilities required to transform clinical trial delivery, with patient security and privacy at the forefront of everything we do. With more than half of Walgreens stores located in socially vulnerable areas, we have a responsibility to stand up and address persistent clinical trials disparities that keep so many of our friends, families and neighbors from being seen and cared for. DSN: How will the clinical trial business differ from others you’ve led in the past? RT: Walgreens’ new clinical trial offering has the potential to forge the missing bond between the public and clinical research, allowing innovation to develop into medicines that inspire trust and improve outcomes. Walgreens is uniquely positioned to deliver flexible clinical trial options that engage patients and address barriers to clinical trial participation, particularly among underserved communities. With our community presence across the nation, combined with our enterprise-wide data and health solutions, including those enabled by Health Corners, Village Medical at Walgreens locations, AllianceRx Walgreens Pharmacy, CareCentrix and Shields Health Solutions, we can unlock a combination of
August 2022 DRUGSTORENEWS.COM
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8/3/22 11:30 AM
