Pharmatech, a Denver-based oncology CRO, is changing how clinical trials studies enroll cancer patients by offering a patient-centered, on-demand research alternative. Pharmatech helps cancer patients identify the right trial opportunity, then activates that trial at a nearby treatment center using a Just-In-Time delivery model.
The Just-In-Time research system was originally conceived by Pharmatech's founder Dr. Matthew Wiener, and its development has been supported by grants from the National Cancer Institute.
According to Rob Bohacs, Pharmatech's CEO, "The process of developing patient-centric cancer trials is a breakthrough in helping both patients and pharmaceutical companies. Patient's would like to learn about clinical trials, but most can't relocate to Houston or New York just to be eligible for a trial, so why not bring the trial to the patient?"
Pharmatech's network of 300+ research sites (all independently owned) spans most of the U.S. The Just-In-Time system allows activation of any of the clinical trials in Pharmatech's portfolio, within 10 days of confirming patient interest and fit with a specific study. In addition, patients who are very interested in clinical trial participation can enroll in Pharmatech's AccessPPM protocol—a molecular diagnostic registry that analyzes an individual's cancer related genetic mutations together with their clinical and treatment history to match the patient with the best next-generation, precision cancer medicine clinical trial treatment opportunities.
The main challenge today is that patients cannot identify or easily connect with the right study. "Finding the right trials is incredibly complex for a physician, let alone a patient," said Bohacs. "Clinicaltrials.gov is simply unmanageable for patients as the terminology and specific information is difficult to interpret, hence why we are launching CureAccess.com—a patient website that allows patients to receive weekly updates that pertain to their cancer type and where they may have that study opened. The website is set to go live by summer and will allow patients to setup a profile, receive weekly emails about clinical trials that match their disease, speak to one of our cancer experts, then refer themselves to a clinical trial center NEAR them."
