CVS Health says it plans to conduct phase 3 and phase 4 clinical trials from some of its stores and will work with sponsors and others to boost patient recruitment and generate real-world evidence (RWE) through its new business, Clinical Trial Services.

The new business will initially focus on patient recruitment, using its footprint and local community connections to help customers learn about upcoming relevant clinical trial opportunities, Woonsocket, R.I.-based CVS Health said.

Clinical Trial Services will support more than 200 in-home clinical trials, as well as retrospective and prospective studies for generating RWE.

The new company also plans to use some of its more than 800 CVS HealthHUB locations in 34 states to support clinical trials. CVS Health has worked with 15 of the 20 largest pharmaceutical companies through two of its businesses, Healthagen and Coram, as well as Aetna. CVS Health has already been helping with clinical trials in a pilot program from HealthHUB locations in three states.