Boston-based CRO ESTERN Medical and Nextrials of San Ramon, Calif., a clinical research software and services company, have partnered to improve sponsor access to clinical trial data and provide better cost control.

ESTERN sponsors electing to utilize Nextrials’ Prism, an electronic data capture (EDC) and clinical trial management platform, will now be able to take advantage of real-time access to investigative site data and Prism’s easy-to-use tools that provide faster study starts, better adverse reporting and simplified integration with electronic health records (EHR).

Nextrials is developing and improving the next generation of eclinical technology: the integration of EHR data with EDC utilizing the Retrieve Form for Data capture standard (RFD). Nextrials is the only company listed as a CDISC Registered Solutions Provider for EHR integration.

"As CROs and sponsors compete for clinical sites and trials become more costly and complex, technology tools such as Prism have never been more valuable,” said Jorge Estrella, M.D., founder, president and chief medical officer of ESTERN. "Prism gives sponsors the ability to better manage and predict investigator site EDC data, logistics, management and costs, and can solve critical business challenges throughout the clinical research process."

Nextrials’ Prism melds clinical trial management functionality with EDC. By receiving a constant flow of data, Prism enables sponsors and sites to fully utilize real-time integration of disparate information and data sources, such as a hospital’s EHR or patient records, to better provide a continuum of care for patients enrolled in clinical trials. This accelerates the time to market for new drugs and devices, improving trial safety and monitoring and substantially lowering development costs.

“Nextrials and ESTERN are well-matched to assist even the smallest of research and development teams,” said James Rogers, co-founder and CEO of Nextrials. “Since Prism can be implemented quickly and without the need for in-house IT staff, ESTERN sponsors regardless of size can take advantage of better data access and lower management costs. This partnership will also help Nextrials expand its service experience in emerging Latin American markets.”