Castor launches decentralized trial support program for CROs

Clinical trial technology firm Castor has launched a partnership program designed to help CROs run decentralized and hybrid studies.

The aim is to provide contract research organization (CROs) with the technical expertise, training and resources needed to operate remote and site-based clinical trials that include remote elements.

Castor founder and CEO Derk Arts set the program in context, explaining CROs and sponsors are recognizing the benefits of remote studies.

“Decentralized clinical trials offer increased patient engagement, convenience, shorter trial times, and allows for a more diverse representation of patients in studies compared to conventional trials.”

He predicted the program would let Castor’s CRO partners “run patient centric trials as their core business, instead of in a pilot setting.”

And demand for decentralized trial support is likely to increase according to Castor, which cited recent research suggesting that half of all clinical trials will have a remote element by 2024 to support its prediction.

Program technology

The program is based on Castor’s modular decentralized trial and electronic data capture technologies.

The firm claims the platforms reduce the number of tools needed to execute a clinical trial while minimizing the need for add-on services when designing proposals.

CROs that take part will also have access to professional services team and named customer success manager (CSM) as well as technical guidance and operational support to scale their DCT capabilities.

And this type of support is likely to be in demand according to Andy Lipetz, senior director of CRO partnerships at Castor.

“We understand the unique needs of CROs from sales to operations and beyond. We’ve been there as researchers ourselves, and we know when it comes to technology, what works today may not be what is needed tomorrow.

“That’s why we built a program dedicated to supporting cross-functional CRO teams and ensuring their success – no matter what.”

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