GLP-1 Clinical Trials and Connected Devices: How to Ensure Data Excellence with Integrated eCOA

A YPrime Blog By:

Aubrey Verna
Senior Director, eCOA,
YPrime

In GLP-1 clinical trials, technology decisions are no longer tactical, they are foundational. When sponsors select trial technologies, they are not simply choosing tools; they are architecting the data infrastructure that determines study quality, execution speed, and regulatory confidence.

The GLP‑1 space exemplifies this shift. With over 300 GLP-1 drugs currently in active development¹ and the global market projected to reach $157.5 billion by 2035,² the operational stakes have reached new heights. In this environment, connected devices supported by purpose-built eCOA platforms are no longer optional. They are essential infrastructure for data-driven clinical trial execution.

“The question is no longer whether to integrate connected devices into GLP-1 trials, but how to do so in a way that ensures data integrity, operational scalability, and regulatory readiness.

As GLP‑1 research expands far beyond its traditional diabetes and weight management roots, the complexity of data collection has grown exponentially. Today’s GLP‑1 trials are investigating breakthrough applications in sleep apnea management, addiction treatment, cardiovascular disease prevention, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, and PCOS management.

Each indication demands precise, protocol-critical data that manual collection methods simply cannot deliver with the accuracy and timeliness modern trials require.

Why Precision Data Matters with eCOA and GLP-1 Trials

In this competitive environment, data quality isn’t just about regulatory compliance. It’s about competitive advantage. Sponsors need every data point to be accurate, timely, and defensible. The traditional approach of manual data collection, with its inherent risks of transcription errors, delayed reporting, and inconsistent measurements, can no longer meet these demands.

Connected devices have emerged as the solution that enables sponsors to capture real-world, protocol-critical data with unprecedented precision. These technologies eliminate human error while providing the granular, continuous monitoring that today’s sophisticated GLP‑1 studies require.

Connected Devices Across Expanding GLP‑1 Indications

The value of connected devices in GLP-1 trials lies in their adaptability across diverse therapeutic endpoints, when supported by an experienced eCOA platform.

Diabetes and Weight Management Studies benefit from Bluetooth-enabled glucometers that automatically transmit glucose readings directly into eCOA platforms, eliminating transcription errors while ensuring real-time data availability. Smart scales capture weight trends with clinical-grade precision, providing the frequent measurements needed to demonstrate efficacy against ambitious weight loss targets. This automated approach transforms glycemic control and weight management data from potential sources of error into reliable, audit-ready datasets.

Sleep Apnea Research leverages wearable devices to capture comprehensive sleep patterns, respiratory events, and sleep quality metrics that would be impossible to obtain through traditional participant reporting. These passive monitoring capabilities provide the behavioral health data essential for demonstrating GLP‑1’s impact on sleep-related endpoints.

Addiction and Behavioral Health Studies utilize activity monitors and behavioral tracking devices to capture objective measures of participant engagement, mobility and sleep patterns, and adherence behaviors. This real-world evidence complements traditional addiction assessment scales with quantifiable data that strengthens study conclusions.

Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Trials integrate heart rate monitors and activity trackers to capture continuous cardiovascular health indicators, providing the comprehensive physiological picture needed to demonstrate GLP‑1’s cardioprotective effects beyond traditional clinical markers.

NASH and Liver Disorder Studies can incorporate specialized monitoring devices that track relevant biomarkers and participant-reported outcomes, creating a complete picture of liver health improvement that supports regulatory submissions.

Neurodegenerative Disease Research benefits from devices that monitor cognitive function, sleep patterns, and daily activity levels. These tools provide objective measures of disease progression and treatment response that complement traditional neurological assessments.

GLP-1 SPOTLIGHT on Connected Glucose Monitoring

Connected glucose monitoring (BGM + CGM) integration transforms reactive monitoring into proactive, data-driven participant management, enabling clinicians to make informed, individualized healthcare decisions throughout the study lifecycle.

Real-Time Clinical Decision Support

Smart Threshold Alerts: Automated notifications when glucose readings fall within pre-configured ranges

Symptom-Glucose Correlation: Trigger targeted diary completions based on glucose values at critical moments

Individualized Participant Care

Dose Optimization: Easy identification of participants outside expected ranges for timely adjustments

Historical Context: Flexible timeframe selection to review data corresponding to previous dose modifications

Operational Excellence

Eliminate Manual Transcription: Direct glucose monitoring transmission reduces errors and accelerates data availability

Enhanced Compliance: Automated data capture improves participant adherence while reducing burden

The Integration Advantage: Unified eCOA and Device Data

The true value of connected devices is realized only when data flows into a unified eCOA environment. Fragmented device feeds and disconnected dashboards introduce risk, delay, and oversight gaps.

YPrime’s eCOA platform harmonizes device data with participant-reported outcomes, maintains complete audit trails, and supports inspection-ready reporting across global studies, allowing teams to monitor safety, compliance, and protocol adherence in near real time.

Enabling Adaptive, Patient-Centric GLP-1 Trial Designs

Continuous access to high-quality device data enables more adaptive and responsive trial designs. Sponsors can identify emerging risks earlier, optimize dosing strategies, and refine protocols mid-study, capabilities that are especially valuable in fast-moving GLP-1 programs.

At the same time, passive data collection improves participant experience, reducing burden and increasing retention, critical factors in long-duration metabolic studies.

Two mobile phones displaying pages from a hypoglycemic event questionnaire used in GLP-1 clinical trials.

Connected Devices Are Now Core GLP-1 Trial Infrastructure

Connected devices have moved from “nice-to-have” to mission-critical infrastructure in GLP-1 trials. Sponsors that invest in eCOA platforms purpose-built for device integration gain measurable advantages in data quality, execution speed, and operational confidence.

Cover of YPrime’s GLP-1 Playbook titled ‘The GLP-1 Revolution: Mastering Clinical Trials in the New Era of Weight Management’; shows a fit woman in workout clothes looking at her phone, with YPrime’s clinical trial platform displayed on mobile and tablet in the foreground.

Learn more about implementing the most efficient GLP-1 clinical trials by reading YPrime’s GLP-1 Playbook, or reach out to us today at marketing@yprime.com.

Success depends on partnering with eCOA vendors who understand both the technical demands of device integration and the unique realities of GLP-1 research across indications.

To learn more, explore our eCOA Connected Devices Playbook for strategic insights and best practices for your next GLP-1 study.

For additional information on YPrime eCOA, visit www.yprime.com/ecoa.

Learn more about implementing the most efficient GLP-1 clinical trials by reading YPrime’s GLP-1 Playbook,
or reach out to us today at marketing@yprime.com.

Success depends on partnering with eCOA vendors who understand both the technical demands of device integration and the unique realities of GLP-1 research across indications.

To learn more, explore our eCOA Connected Devices Playbook for strategic insights and best practices for your next GLP-1 study. For additional information on YPrime eCOA, visit www.yprime.com/ecoa.

Sources
¹Clinical Trials Arena, 2024 was a record year for obesity trials and 2025 is already poised to take over. https://www.clinicaltrialsarena.com/analyst-comment/2024-record-year-obesity-trials-2025-poised-take-over/. Accessed May 29, 2025.
²Roots Analysis Business Research & Consulting, GLP-1 Market: Industry Trends and Global Forecasts. https://www.rootsanalysis.com/reports/glp-1-market.html. Accessed May 29, 2025.