CLINICALTRIAL
Moving Ahead with Intelligent Virtual Clinical Trials Fuelled by the current COVID-19 pandemic, and the considerable volume of data generated during a clinical trial, Artificial intelligence (AI) has provided the much-needed impetus for transforming clinical trials into the virtual sphere for greater efficiency. From patient recruitment, protocol design, trial monitoring, to identifying the effect of blood thinners on virtual patients with irregular heartbeats, leveraging AI has helped life-saving drugs reach the market sooner. Ayaaz Hussain Khan, Global Head Generics, Navitas Life Sciences (a TAKE Solutions Enterprise)
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ealthcare today faces extraordinary challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic along with a rise in chronic disease burden worldwide, an aging population, and the growth of the middle-class Asian population. According to the World Health Organization (WHO 1), by 2020, an estimated three-quarters of all deaths globally would be due to chronic diseases. These stressors have helped facilitate innovations in conducting clinical trials in a bid to curb rising costs and reduce the time needed to conduct them. Simultaneously, there have been significant breakthroughs in science and technology, enabling intelligent clinical trial solutions. A recent report by Researchand Markets stated that the global market
1. https://www.who.int/nutrition/topics/2_background/en/
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ISSUE 41 - 2020
for e-Clinical Trial technologies 2, catalysed by the COVID-19 pandemic, is an estimated US$5.4 Billion(2020), with an expected rise to US$ 9.9 Billion by 2027. The U.S e-Clinical Trial Technologies market is at an estimated US$1.6 billion this year, while the market size in China is expected to be US$1.7 billion by the year 2027. Among regional markets, China will be one of the fastest-growing, followed by Australia, India, and South Korea, with an estimated Asia-Pacific market value at US$1.1 Billion by 2027. AI in Clinical Trials
Data provided by ClinicalTrials.gov shows that there was a reduction in the number 2. https://www.businesswire.com/news/ home/20200908005697/en/Global-e-ClinicalTrial-Technologies-Market-Trajectory-Analytics2012-2019-2020-2027---ResearchAndMarkets.com
of new trials between January and May 2020. Moreover, Michael Lauer from the US National Institutes of Health stated that nearly 80% of non-COVID trials 3 were either stopped or interrupted. Investigative sites had to resort to ingenuity and flexibility during the subsequent period of recovery from June to July, with prior investment on the right technology aiding in risk mitigation. For instance, AI and machine learning (ML) platforms were leveraged by a global clinical research organisation to run six COVID-19 clinical trials using remote monitoring practices, while banking on vast experience and in-depth infectious disease expertise, that resulted in milestones reached ahead of time. Furthermore, the advent of digital solutions in clinical trial management and conduct has improved transparency, with an onus on delivering better healthcare. Consumers or patients have access to a wide range of information, and, with this dissemination of information, there is increased expectancy. This has initiated a need for rethinking clinical trials to maximise benefits. There has been a significant shift towards embracing the incredible advantages of data analytics, along with digital models of engagement, to forge clinical trials that cater to the current demands. Significant strides in incorporating digital health solutions began a few years 3. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/ PIIS0140-6736(20)31787-6/fulltext
