N-Side launches new clinical trial supply chain software

19-Mar-2019 - Last updated on 20-Mar-2019 at 14:20 GMT

(Image: Getty/ Ali Kerem Yucel)

The global software consulting company N-Side recently launched an end-to-end clinical trial supply chain management solution to enable “agile” decision making and reduce drug waste.

According to the Belgium-based company, the N-Side Suite for Clinical Trials uses data analytics and machine learning (ML) algorithms to support decision making and builds on the company’s existing CT-Fast solution for supply forecasting.

Sébastien Coppe, head of the consulting group at N-Side, said the platform optimizes all clinical supply chain decisions, “from when and how much to manufacture, to when and how much packaged kits should be released, and how to set up the distribution strategy, including depot and site management.”

He told us, “Our solution allows to accurately model any kind of trial and their multiple constraints using the most advanced technologies in order to trustfully assess the risk and ensure a future-proofed optimal forecasting and planning.”

Among the benefits of the new software, Coppe said the platform helps ensure patients get their medication on time, reduces drug waste, shortens time to market timelines, and connects clinical and supply teams with real-time monitoring dashboards.

Sylvia Haller, life sciences engagement manager at N-Side, said today’s challenges, specifically around biological medicines, make an innovative supply chain more important than ever.

“With expensive comparator drugs and longer lead times for producing biotech products, the industry needs to be more agile in decision making and at the same time to drive reduction of drug waste,” she told us.

According to the company, the solution drives drug waste reduction from 75% to 25%.

“We need to make the best use of resources to be able to make new treatment available to patients faster and without any risk of drug not being available for patients dispensing visits during a trial,” added Haller.

The N-Side Suite for Clinical Trials includes several integrated applications, including the N-Side Production App, the N-Side Supply App, and the N-Side Dashboard App. All collate in a single centralized database to enable information sharing among various stakeholders.