A new report from Research2Guidance discusses the rise in digital decentralised clinical trial (DDCT) technologies since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Digital solutions for decentralised clinical trials allow some or all clinical trial activities to be conducted virtually rather than in person. This includes technology such as wearables to continuously collect patient data, telemedicine to deliver education and consent, and software dashboards to track patient data.

The Digital Decentralized Clinical Trials Solutions Market, 2018-2026 report explores the proposed benefits of these technologies and long-term trends that will continue to shape the market.

It also examines industry claims that DDCT solutions can enable an overall faster recruitment process, higher diversity of patients enrolled, increased retention, better engagement tools and reduced trial time and cost.

WHY IT MATTERS

The DDCT solution and service market in Europe and North America (NA) is $1.79 billion (€1.54 billion) and is predicted to grow by 38.5% (CAGR) to reach $9.13 billion (€7.84 billion) by 2026. 

Today and in the future, it is expected that most trials using decentralised technology will be hybrid, with some treatment delivered in-person out of research sites, but the majority of long-term follow up and data collection conducted remotely.

THE LARGER CONTEXT

During the COVID-19 pandemic, clinical trials and other scientific research methods were forced to innovate and go virtual. Investments into DDCT companies grew by 114% between 2019-2020, reaching $750 million (€646 million).

Earlier this month, decentralised clinical trial platform Lightship raised up $40 million (€34.5 million) in new funding towards the company’s international expansion, including plans to open a new office in London, UK.

Meanwhile, digital wound care company Swift Medical recently launched Swift Scientific, a digital imaging platform to support decentralized clinical trials. The platform allows for large-scale image collection and management so researchers can monitor the effects of medical interventions at a multi-site trial or from study participants' homes.

In June, Swedish digital health company NuvoAir announced a raise of $12 million (€10 million) to expand its chronic disease management and decentralised clinical trial platforms.

ON THE RECORD

Ralf Jahns, managing director of Research2Guidance, said: “I am impressed by the breadth of service offerings already available from DDCT companies. Solutions are innovating every step of the clinical trial process, from site selection to patient recruitment, and patient onboarding to long term data monitoring. While tools could be used to completely virtualise trials, we expect that most future clinical trials will be conducted with a hybrid approach.”

Isabel Cassidy-Soto, author of the Research2Guidance report, said: “Patient diversity continues to be a priority for clinical trials, especially to prove that the treatment in question works for all groups regardless of ethnicity, disability, gender, and age. With DDCT technologies, patients experiencing socio-economic barriers to care who may otherwise be unable to participate in the research process can now do so from the comfort of their homes.”