Disrupting Clinical Research: A Guide to Streamlining Trials

Imagine this: you’ve developed a new treatment with the potential to transform lives. But getting it to patients feels like scaling Everest—a daunting climb riddled with complexity, bureaucracy, and agonizing delays.

At YPrime’s Innovation Network Gathering, Mike Wenger, CEO and Founder of VersaTrial, compared innovators to mountain climbers and pharma company champions to Sherpas. In this analogy, Mike offers guidance to conquer clinical trials and deliver life-saving treatments faster.

“Innovation exists outside a preferred vendor list.”
– Mike Wenger

In Mike’s Everest analogy, the climber is the innovator brimming with a groundbreaking idea. Reaching the summit requires a Sherpa—a pharma champion or clinical research organization (CRO) who advocates for the climber’s success. Here’s how clinical trial sponsors, like Sherpas, can maximize their impact:

Master the Terrain. Understand internal processes, decision-makers, and potential roadblocks. This foresight prevents surprises and streamlines the climb.

Standardize Gear. Advocate for common industry standards, especially in IT procurement. This eliminates the tedious and confusing questionnaires that slow progress.

Communication and Trust are Oxygen. Keep lines of communication open with your vendors. Provide timely feedback and maintain a tight loop to avoid delays and missed opportunities.

For climbers, conquering this peak requires meticulous planning:

Know your Everest. Deepen your understanding of the clinical research landscape, including acronyms, key players, and different pharma structures. This knowledge equips you to navigate this complex ecosystem.

Build a Team of Experts. Invest in relationships with multiple champions within pharma companies and CROs. These connections are crucial for navigating internal hurdles.

Prove your Ability. Demonstrate long-term viability. Secure funding, announce partnerships, and showcase your ability to reach the finish line.

Clinical trial sponsors: as Sherpas, share knowledge by mentoring future champions and advocating for processes that benefit everyone. Climbers: once you’ve reached the peak, don’t forget those below. Share learnings and best practices that open the door for more advancements.

The clinical research landscape is ripe for innovation. By working together alongside sponsors, sites, and research coordinators, we can dismantle the status quo. Let’s accelerate research and deliver life-saving treatments to market faster.

Innovation and quality are at the core of everything we do as an industry to improve clinical trials. That’s why every year, we host the Innovation Network Gathering—a forum for brilliant minds from various backgrounds to come together to engage in thought-provoking discourse that sparks new opportunities for growth and change. 

Want to learn more about streamlining clinical trials?

Read an article written by YPrime’s Karl McEvoy, Vice President, eCOA and Patient Technology, Streamline Clinical Trial Consent with Patient-Centric Technology