Alphabet’s health and life sciences spinout Verily is strengthening its clinical research arm by acquiring the Raleigh, N.C.-based clinical trial management system developer SignalPath.

This marks Verily’s first major acquisition, the company shared in its announcement. It did not disclose the terms of the deal.

Founded in 2014, SignalPath has created a suite of software products designed to improve efficiency for clinical research sites. These include tools for optimizing study designs, building trial workflows and overseeing trials with real-time data.

“At SignalPath, we’ve created a better research ecosystem – one that combines a network of premier, technology-enabled research sites with a best-in-class suite of clinical trial tools to address the pain points experienced by patients, sites and sponsors,” Dr. Brad Hirsch, cofounder and CEO of SignalPath, said in a statement.

“Combining these capabilities with Verily’s clinical studies platforms business accelerates our ability to scale these solutions and make them available to a larger group of sites as well as provide entirely new opportunities to our network. It is another step forward in accelerating clinical research and helping get treatments to market faster.”

WHY THIS MATTERS

The acquisition will enable Verily to build out its clinical trial platform, Baseline, which houses technology for decentralized and hybrid trials.

“Joining forces helps to accelerate and scale our shared vision, increase efficiency and lower costs in clinical trials, empower clinical research sites with world class technology, and ultimately bring medicines to patients faster,” Dr. Amy Abernethy, president of Clinical Studies Platforms at Verily, said in a statement.

“It’s our goal to modernize the way clinical trials are conducted for patients, researchers and sponsors alike. Together, we will advance digital solutions to improve ease, quality, efficiency and speed in the current clinical trial paradigm.”

Upon closing the deal, SignalPath’s employees will join Verily’s clinical research business but will remain based in Raleigh.

THE LARGER TREND

Verily has been beefing up its clinical trial ecosystem for some time. Last December, it scored $700 million and said it would invest in Baseline. Then, earlier this summer, Verily added Abernethy, a former chief information officer at the FDA, to support the company’s expansion into a full-scale clinical evidence generation platform.

One of Baseline’s ongoing trials is in partnership with dental care company Colgate-Palmolive and seeks to find the link between oral health and overall health.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, conducting traditional in-person clinical trials was nearly impossible due to lockdowns and physical distancing requirements. As a result, decentralized trials – or studies conducted remotely – have emerged as a way to continue research during the pandemic.

Others working in this field include Castor, Hawthorne Effect, Science 37 and Florence.