Solutions for Drug Development
According to a recent PhRMA annual survey, pharmaceutical companies sink 71 percent of their total R&D budget into drug development. Of that, a whopping 45 percent of total R&D spending is devoted solely to clinical trials. In addition, half the time it takes to move a drug through the development pipeline to the marketplace is spent in the clinical trial phase.
Because those figures are so high, pharmaceutical companies face significant pressure to eliminate inefficiencies that add time and complexity to development processes. With the duration of patent protection limited, every day that is saved in the development stage can translate to a significant revenue boost after a drug reaches the market.
Microsoft vision helps the life sciences industry improve the development process
The Microsoft Knowledge Driven Life Sciences vision was designed to help pharmaceutical deal with these tough problems. Central to the Knowledge Driven Life Sciences framework are solutions that can streamline the way clinical trials. Microsoft technologies provide tools that speed data entry and automatically ensure that electronic data is verified and completed through every stage of the clinical trial process, including recruitment, data collection, data cleaning, analysis, and submission.
One example is the Clinical Trial Initiation reference implementation for Microsoft Office 2003, which demonstrates how the Microsoft Office System helps to expedite the creation and sharing of protocol documents. With the Microsoft Office System, clinical study managers and investigators can use a configurable library of reusable content to access previous studies and existing scientific data more easily. A specially designed task pane streamline document and management processes. And a central protocol portal enables study managers to manage author access, which can minimize errors and enhance compliance with security and auditing requirements.
By speeding clinical trials, solutions based on the Knowledge Driven Life Sciences framework enable pharmaceutical companies to understand a compound’s effectiveness and safety profile more quickly, leading to faster confirmation of marketable compounds and quicker discontinuation of compounds that are less promising. These essential Speed to Insight benefits are supported by Value for Cost improvements, including reduced clinical trial costs through more efficient processing and the potential for greater market longevity for successful compounds.
Development case Study: Merck & Co.
Using Microsoft Office InfoPath 2003, Merck is optimizing the creation, transmission, and collection of information for late-stage clinical trials. A pilot application using Microsoft Office InfoPath and Microsoft Windows Server 2003 was built to replace a paper-based system for reporting on patients participating in clinical trials. The new solution shortens the time to complete forms, reduces errors, and improves information quality. In addition, the ability to use XML to capture and transmit report data makes it easier to move information between systems. The results are helping to expedite the completion of reports and improve the quality of study data captured in critical databases.
Drug development technology partners
Microsoft is collaborating with leading technology companies, software developers, and systems integrators that provide both extensive technical experience and a deep knowledge of the specific requirements of the pharmaceutical industry.
Technology partners providing drug development solutions include:
Business intelligence
Thorogood Associates
(609) 375-2360
ProClarity Corp.
(208) 344-1630
Thorogood Associates Business Intelligence, powered by ProClarity, helps life sciences organizations improve research and development performance. The solution provides analysis and comparisons of clinical trial studies conducted by organizations around the world.
Data collection and management
Covansys Corporation
(425) 558-7585
Advantrial from Covansys is a comprehensive Microsoft .NET-based clinical trial management solution that supports collection, monitoring, management, and analysis of clinical trial data. The solution provides a user-friendly interface for setting up protocols and case report forms that help to ensure accurate data entry. Advantrial helps research organizations collect better information faster while meeting regulatory requirements.
DataLabs Inc.
(215) 631-7030
DataLabsXC from DataLabs Inc. enables life sciences organizations to rapidly design, prototype, and implement trial studies using Microsoft Office System. The solution provides users fast access to study data from a Web portal. DataLabsXC easily integrates with new and legacy systems. The solution helps customers run trials more efficiently and effectively, reducing both costs and time to market.
Immedient Corp.
(800) 760-3491 ext. 712
Based on the Microsoft Office System, the Clinical Trial Solution Suite from Immedient Corp. facilitates the creation, assembly, and life cycle management of complex documents such as study protocols. Using the content and collaboration management functionality of Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services, the Clinical Trial Solution Suite delivers improved productivity, increased consistency, and reduced cycle time.
Medidata Solutions Worldwide
(212) 918-1847
Medidata Solutions helps the world’s leading pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device companies realize the maximum potential value from their clinical research investments. Working with companies large and small, Medidata Solutions helps accelerate the process of bringing life-enhancing treatments to market – on five continents and in more than 70 countries. Innovative process design, technology and services can streamline clinical trials by providing early visibility to clinical data for faster decision-making, optimized resources and lower execution risk. Medidata Solutions’ broad client base and deep clinical experience provide value for the world’s leading pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device companies.
Enterprise project management
Project Assistants
(302) 477-9711
The Drug Development Solution by Project Assistants helps organizations forecast, coordinate, and track the vast resources required to complete the drug development cycle. The solution helps life sciences organizations forecast development resources, integrate knowledge management and project management, streamline portfolio reporting, and promote team collaboration. Project Assistants help managers improve resource utilization, collect organizational knowledge, and establish best practices.
Additional information
For more information about Microsoft Knowledge Driven Life Sciences and related Microsoft products, technologies, and industry partners, please contact your Microsoft representative today.
