Current clinical research model is at risk due to the slow recruitment process

According to industry experts, the current research model is failing many people, but more specifically those who live in a mobile world. As of now, clinical trials take years to recruit. For example, oncology trials are only able to recruit half a patient per site per month, Outsourcing Pharma reported.¹

At the inaugural Bridging Clinical Research and Clinical Health Care collaborativein early April Kent Thoelke, executive vice president spoke on the issue, “the real world is quite quickly going to surpass drug development and put the entire model that we have at risk”.¹

Millennials are projected to peak in 2036 at 76.2 million but will surpass Baby Boomers as the largest generation in America by 2019, according to Pew Research Center.²However, 30% of the millennial generation does not have a primary care physician. Therefore, many people from that generation are receiving health care through clinics and telehealth and are not given the opportunity to participate in clinical trials. Thoelke classifies the current clinical research model as a “brick and mortar system” because the industry is not adjusting its mindset that every patient is different.¹

As millennials become the focus for clinical trials, the timelines will become longer, and the financial models will not sustain trials taking up to six years for patient recruitment. Today’s industry has the capability to use mobile health technology and therefore lower the barriers, increasing access to clinical trials. However, most clinical trials remain rigid, sticking with the current model.

Thoelke believes that “patients die every day because of the process we’ve created,”¹and wishes to change the process for the future more digitally driven generations.

Pearl Pathways’ dedicated clinical team includes experts in the fields of medical practice, science, ethics, and clinical research. Our vision is to improve the clinical research process, thereby delivering new therapeutics and diagnostics to patients sooner. Click here to learn more about our clinical services.

¹https://www.outsourcing-pharma.com/Article/2018/04/18/Entire-clinical-research-model-at-risk-Call-to-action-has-to-be-now-says-PRA?utm_source=copyright&utm_medium=OnSite&utm_campaign=copyright

²http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/03/01/millennials-overtake-baby-boomers/