Advarra launches site selection platform
Advarra has launched a platform to help trial sponsors identify sites that fit their clinical programs.
The platform – called Site IQ – is designed to provide information about clinical trial sites – about everything from experience, capacity, quality, performance, and patient eligibility - in a bid to help sponsors and CROs accelerate study start-up.
Data is derived from a variety of sources which means, according to Advarra, that information provided by the system “reflects insights based on actual study and performance data, not estimates or self-reported information.”
Informed, impartial site selection is a critical part of any clinical trial programme according to Lindsey Mathew, Director, Clinical Business Operations, at Swiss biotech Ferring Pharmaceuticals.
“In my experience as a big pharma sponsor, a mid-size sponsor, and a large CRO, having the ability to choose from a properly vetted selection of sites is critical.
"The lack of transparency in site quality, mixed with personal relationships with investigators, can create bias in the selection process that every sponsor wants to avoid” Mathew said.
Advarra has operated as an institutional review board assessing a variety of clinical research – including NCI-designated cancer centers - since the early 90s.
And chief technology officer Jeff Sidell cited this experience as key to its development of the platform. He also welcomed Ferring’s adoption of the technology.
“We are thrilled and honoured to extend our long-time partnership with Ferring Pharmaceuticals to be an early adopter.
"Site IQ demonstrates our commitment to bridging the research ecosystem and connecting sponsors, sites and patients through improved workflows and advanced technology solutions. With this holistic approach, we are addressing a key industry challenge through a data-driven solution."
The launch comes just a month after Advarra established a suite of services for early phase research and just weeks after it partnered with Huron to deliver fully integrated, research services to academic medical facilities, cancer centers and health systems.
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