CVS Health, Medable Expand Clinical Trial Access, Engagement

February 07, 2022 - CVS Health and Medable recently collaborated to expand clinical trial access and engagement for patients at select MinuteClinic locations.

The collaboration will combine Medable’s software platform with CVS Health’s community reach and experienced MinuteClinic providers to deliver trials that improve patient access, engagement, and retention to advance research effectiveness.

“This dynamic collaboration with Medable will help us intensify our efforts to drive meaningful awareness and access to a broader population, in particular those with mounting chronic illnesses and the vulnerable populations who today are underrepresented in clinical research,” Tony Clapsis, general manager and senior vice president of CVS Health clinical trial services, said in the announcement.  

Less than four percent of Americans participate in clinical studies, while nearly 30 percent of participants drop out before study completion. And about 80 percent of studies do not meet enrollment deadlines.

The most recurrent barriers in clinical trial enrollment include structural barriers, clinical barriers, and socioeconomic disparities.

Patients must have access to local clinics to participate in clinical trials. But transportation, travel costs, access to insurance, and availability of childcare may create a roadblock in trial participation.

And even if a trial is available, patients may fail to meet the eligibility criteria. Often, trials draw criticism for having eligibility criteria that are too narrow, sacrificing generalizability.

Since May 2021, CVS Health Clinical Trial Services (CTS) has worked with key stakeholders in the biopharmaceutical industry and across the clinical trial ecosystem to design and deliver innovative approaches to research and evidence.

CTS entangled patients and facilitated trials for investigational COVID-19 vaccines and treatments. And as part of this collaboration, CVS Health will continue to offer precision patient recruitment, clinical trial diversity, and real-world evidence generation.

Additionally, the company will employ Medable’s clinical trial software platform to boost patient access, engagement, and retention while producing endpoint data and other important trial information.

“Our mission is to bring effective therapies to all patients, regardless of where they live, their social status, or race. This collaboration intends to bridge research and science into communities with local access and experience that builds greater trust in health and medicine,” said Sans Thakur, chief growth officer at Medable.