May 26, 2022

Why Paperless Trials Are a Win for Patients – as Well as the Environment

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4 min read

Malia Lewin

Life Sciences Strategy Leader

Guest

When you think about environmental consciousness and trends toward sustainability, I would bet that “clinical research” does not fall high on your list of sectors requiring transformation. Instead, you might think of retail, a sector consuming tremendous amounts of natural resources while releasing pollutants through manufacturing and shipping. Clinical trials bring to mind an image of a clean, efficient industry with minimal waste. In reality, clinical trials are still driven mainly by outdated paper-based and manual processes that create a carbon footprint, from the printing and shipping of documents to the transport of personnel for frequent in-person interactions.

In the 21st century this simply isn’t necessary, and the clinical trial industry is showing signs of a commitment to sustainability. Based on the number of initiatives springing up at sponsor companies and research sites, I am optimistic that we will see paperless trials in as few as five years. That may sound like a bold statement, but I stand by it. Watching the industry spring into action and work in lockstep during the COVID-19 pandemic makes me sure that rapid adoption of technology is possible when everyone commits. The industry may have a reputation for being somewhat conservative, but when urgent, we adapt at speed.

Solving the Efficiency Problem

When it comes to clinical trials, many companies want to solve “the efficiency problem.” And, as a value model commissioned by us last year demonstrates, the impact of Teckro on sponsors compared to standard operations is significant. It can cost more than $1 billion to get a drug to market – yet this can be substantially cut with Teckro’s technology. It is not just about the digitization of the protocol and other study documents, but also that savings can be made in other key areas such as:

• Reduced travel to research sites – Teckro reduces the heavy carbon toll traveling takes on the environment, by making communication with sites direct, efficient and easily visible to everyone who needs to see it
• Reduction of emails and phone calls – Teckro’s communication tools allow sites and sponsors to collaborate via a mobile app that creates its own record, eliminating the manual work of chasing confirmations and logging interactions
• Reduction of errors – Teckro puts up-to-date digital content in the pockets of investigators and site staff and the real-time access to experts they need to run trials efficiently and accurately

In fact, the hard numbers in the model show that the amount of time that a typical lead clinical research associate (CRA) or clinical trial assistant (CTA) is engaging with their research site in certain areas of their work, can be reduced by about 30%. And then the medical monitor who also spends a considerable amount of time engaging with sites – such as answering questions – will be able to reduce time by about 10% as clarified by two different interviewees from two different CROs in the research.

Positive for the Environment, Positive for the Patient

The value model also demonstrates that Teckro-run trials aren’t just good for the environment – they’re also great for patients. Simple, intuitive technologies help make clinical research accessible for community-based sites and other sites new to research. The more sites are engaged, the greater number of patients who can be provided with clinical research as a care option. Receiving care close to home is also better for the environment as it greatly reduces drive times to far away sites.

Teckro’s mission is to modernize and simplify clinical trials and this has a direct and positive impact on the environment as well as on the speed, quality, and cost of clinical research. As sponsors prioritize Teckro as a tool for speed, safety and site satisfaction, they are also fulfilling their commitment to move the needle on sustainability. Most importantly, these benefits also offer an opportunity for sponsors and sites to improve service to patients.

I look forward to seeing how my prediction plays out – but I am confident that five years from now the industry will have abandoned paper for easy-to-access, on-the-go technology like Teckro.

Malia Lewin

Life Sciences Strategy Leader

Guest

Malia is a senior business strategist with a passion for accelerating new ideas, technologies and innovations within the biopharma industry. In a career spanning over 20 years, Malia has led organizations and spearheaded successful projects from R&D, launch planning and market access through post-market growth strategy, execution and analysis.