Novartis AG said it will expand its alliance with privately held Science 37, Inc. to launch up to 10 new virtual clinical trials over the next three years.
Virtual, or decentralized trials, use mobile devices and telemedicine services to carry out a study at a patient's home or local physician's office rather than at a central site.
The Swiss drugmaker has initiated virtual trials with the Los Angeles-based company for cluster headaches, acne and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, which affects the liver.
The new virtual trials are expected to begin later in 2018 in the U.S. in the areas of dermatology, neuroscience and oncology, using Science 37's network-oriented research assistant technology.
"Novartis aims to run studies in ways that overcome many of the barriers patients face when deciding whether or not to enroll in clinical trials, like long journeys or extensive time spent at hospitals or trial sites," said Rob Kowalski, Novartis' ad interim head of global drug development and chief medical officer.
Novartis, an early investor in Science 37, cited a study from the Center for Information & Study on Clinical Research Participation saying that only 2% of the eligible population in the U.S. participate in clinical trials.
The participants attend an average of 11 trial site visits in six months, representing a significant burden for both patients and trial centers, the company added.
