Parexel International, a global biopharmaceutical services organization, announced a collaboration with Sanofi to advance the use of wearable devices to transform the collection of data in clinical trials.

Wearables have the potential to address several challenges related to clinical trials and improve execution by increasing patients’ ability to participate, driving patient engagement, and creating more opportunities for decentralized trial sites. The Parexel-Sanofi collaboration is designed to further explore the potential of patient sensors and wearable devices to remotely collect patient data during clinical trials.

The two companies are jointly leveraging their clinical, scientific, regulatory, logistics and technical expertise, as well as global footprint, to determine how wearables can optimize study performance and accelerate drug development. In particular, the companies are examining how data collected from several wearable devices can be streamlined into a single, scalable data system to provide valuable insights.

Currently, Parexel and Sanofi are collaborating on a pilot study using Parexel’s recently launched patient sensor solution to demonstrate the scientific and medical viability of wearables. In an ongoing single-site study, patient data is being collected remotely and simultaneously via multiple wearable devices. Publication of final study results is expected in the near future.

“We believe the use of wearables to collect data from trial participants represents a breakthrough in the digital transformation within the industry,” said Xavier Flinois, president, Parexel Informatics. “Working with Sanofi, we believe we have a strong opportunity to streamline and automate data collection from multiple devices, collect high-quality data remotely and generate meaningful results, all while reducing burden on patients and sites, as well as lowering costs.”

“Our objective is to demonstrate the relevance of data collected remotely and the overall feasibility of utilizing wearables in clinical trials,” said Lionel Bascles, Global Head of Clinical Sciences and Operations of Sanofi. “Wearables are a core component of Sanofi’s digital trials strategy, and represent an important approach to automate patient processes using the latest technologies to bring new therapies to patients sooner. We are pleased to be collaborating with Parexel and leveraging their multi-functional expertise in this area. We are committed to further advancing the potential of this technology.”

Parexel’s recently launched patient sensor solution, powered by the Perceptive MyTrials Analytics platform, facilitates the remote collection of study subject data. To deliver this solution, Parexel has partnered with leading technology providers to capture, securely transmit, store, and monitor data, as well as generate alerts based on the potentially large volume of time-series data from sensors.