In this publication, we propose to consider what new opportunities the innovative virtual data room technologies open up for the life science and pharmaceutical industry. Here is more about it.
Virtual data room: decentralized clinical trials
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for a wider range of innovations and modernizations in the pharmaceutical industry. This is especially true for traditional clinical trials, which are often burdened by expensive, inefficient, and logistically complex processes. However, things are changing, and new digital technologies like virtual data rooms are making decentralized clinical trials more accessible.
The launch of new drugs is the lifeblood of the pharmaceutical industry. In this context, clinical trials are crucial to demonstrate their safety and efficacy. Traditional experimental models and practices are no longer sustainable for the pharmaceutical industry, which is currently under considerable pressure.
Advantages of a decentralized data room approach
In the course of decentralized data room research, all major processes are transferred to the online format. That is why they can be an alternative that can make it easier to overcome some of the obstacles that arise from traditional clinical trials. Moreover, the decentralized approach is gaining momentum through technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and cloud computing.
Because patients are often unable to physically visit clinical trial sites during a pandemic, decentralized research is becoming increasingly popular. Thus, according to a new survey conducted by Informa Pharma Intelligence, today due to the pandemic 76% of researchers are forced to conduct decentralized research in a virtual data room. Remote clinical trials are becoming more and more real, and this is increasing the focus of the entire pharmaceutical industry on the needs of patients.
Lots of paperwork and trips to and from clinical trial centers are traditional barriers to recruiting volunteers for clinical trials. Recently, participants' fear of visiting medical centers where there is a presumed risk of COVID-19 infection has significantly exacerbated the situation.
In this context, clinical trials conducted in a data room can help address some of these barriers. This is because decentralized clinical trials are more patient-oriented and provide convenience and flexibility of the process. After all, the patient can participate in the study without leaving home. There is no need to travel or be forced to visit medical facilities – even for the initial documentation. This flexible approach allows the patient to act. As a result, decentralized clinical trials can provide faster and more accurate results, as improved convenience directly affects patients' adherence to protocol.
How can data room benefit life sciences?
With the expansion of physics, computer science, and medicine, there are high synergies in the natural and technical sciences, which require the expansion of the life sciences.
The formation of a cloud-oriented scientific environment is an essential prerequisite for the training of competent professionals capable of active, appropriate, scientifically sound use of the latest informational technologies in their professional activities.
So, the data room provides the following functions:
- secure document exchange
- well-structured data repository
- access rights control
- confidential data protection
- efficient and simplifies collaboration
- automation of the working process and business management.
Thanks to the use of virtual technologies in the life sciences there is an opportunity to build more convenient, flexible, scalable systems for access to electronic resources and services in research, creating conditions for teamwork with software applications with the removal of geographical and temporal constraints, wider implementation of open science.