Icon, a global provider of drug development solutions and services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries, has accelerated its study startup timelines globally and has achieved a reduction of mean startup cycle times by up to 25%. 

Following a comprehensive review of study startup activities, Icon has adopted a range of new processes and procedures that have streamlined site activation. Unnecessary, time-consuming activities have been eliminated and Icon also has fostered enhanced communication between sites and global teams to improve the predictability and increase the speed in site startup.

Icon has reduced or eliminated many previously manual processes through the implementation of goBalto Activate, which Icon has introduced to all clinical studies in more than 50 countries. The goBalto Activate is a purpose-built software solution that automates study startup by providing country-specific workflows that guide study teams to complete the specific documents and tasks required for activating a site in any country, while tracking progress automatically. Providing status updates and critical path reports in real-time, the solution enhances collaboration between study teams and sites by providing a single area for exchanging documents, recording and updating tasks, monitoring submissions and communicating updates for study startup.

Icon also is using goBalto Analyze for reporting and to provide real-time visibility into startup across multiple studies and regions. Analyze enables Icon to discover meaningful patterns in study startup data and also quantifies study team performance.

“Accelerating study startup is a key component in project delivery optimization and by combining streamlined processes with industry leading tools we are helping our clients take time and cost from their development programs,” said Marie Keegan, vice president and global functional head of study startup at Icon. “With our process improvement initiatives supported by goBalto’s Activate and Analyze solutions, we are able to deliver enhanced study startup results, with median cycle times reduced by up to 25%.”

“The life sciences industry has recognized study startup as one of areas within clinical trials that needs to be significantly enhanced,” said Jae Chung, goBalto’s founder and president. “ICON is taking the lead in automating a cumbersome industry process, with the goal of getting medicines to those in need, faster.”