eClinical news brief

Parexel's Perceptive Informatics​ has recently released an updated version of its comprehensive clinical trial management system (CTMS), Impact, which it says has improved site management and monitoring capabilities. The new version features an online and offline web-based site management and monitoring module, called MySites, which offers non-stop access from anywhere in the world, the company said. These additions were made in response to clients facing "further globalisation of clinical trials" and requiring "site management and monitoring of increasingly complex studies". Meanwhile, Almac Clinical Technologies​ has launched IXR Express, an interactive voice response system (IVRS) designed to help accelerate the clinical trial process. The firm said the IVRS was not a one size fits all application, but a "flexible solution created to meet the functional needs of a larger percentage of clinical trials than the standard configurable offerings currently on the market". "IXR Express has been created to meet the needs of simple to moderately complex trials and provides users the option of managing activities over the phone, the web or both". Likewise, contract research organisation (CRO) Aptuit​ also recently announced the availability of its new IVRS, which it claims provides users with "unparalleled functionality both over the phone and on the web… based on deployment speed, powerful reporting capability, and broad functionality in managing various aspects of clinical supply packaging, labelling, and distribution". The system is powered by US eclinical firm Clarix, whom Aptuit has also made a minority investment in and named one of the members to the Clarix board of directors. In other announcements, INC Research​ has formed a partnership with TheraSim to provide a web-based clinical performance management (CPM) system to assess the skills and behavior of clinicians for training purposes. TheraSim said it has designed its technology to assess site competency, correct deficiencies in good clinical practice (GCP), good laboratory practice (GLP) and protocol adherence; and uses patient simulation, remote adaptive learning and artificial intelligence technologies to track performance levels over time, of those who are managing clinical trials. INC said it "recognises the need to implement a comprehensive process for developing sites and improving outcomes" and initially plans on implementing the CPM system for investigator site training, "which is critical to the clinical trial process and currently lacks a global standard for training and development". Similarly, electronic data capture (EDC) firm OmniComm Systems​ is now partnering with Pharmatech, a Research Management Organisation (RMO), to build a patient registry database intended to improve patient accrual in clinical trials. The database will use the data mining functionality in OmniComm's TrialMaster EDC solution to allow the screening and identification of patients with the potential to participate in oncology studies. "This will be the first of its kind solution between a CRO and an EDC company that focuses on the problem of patient accrual", said Cornelis Wit, CEO of OmniComm.