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Top IoT Trends in Wearables for Clinical Trials As wearable technology becomes more versatile, more accessible, and more embraced as a whole, numerous industries are looking to take advantage of these platforms. Pharmaceutical companies are no different; many are trying to leverage wearable technology in order to make their products and services more secure, reliable, and effective. Wearable technology for clinical trials can include numerous options, including clothing, watches, shoes, and virtual reality equipment. Even phones may be considered “wearable,” as information from mobile devices can be used to provide location information. Connected wearable technology enables researchers to collect accurate information from participants, with data sets involving nearly limitless categories, including physiological, geographical, and behavioral information. One of the most discussed uses for IoTs in clinical trials will be the implementation of artificial intelligence. AI programs working in conjunction with wearable technology can be used to measure and analyze clinical results to make swift decisions for drugs and treatment programs. This trend is already seen at large organizations who are implementing AI platforms in their research methods. Nine experts in the pharmaceutical and technology sectors came together to delve into current IoT trends in wearables for clinical trials. Learn more at Participants: convetit.com CONVETIT FORESIGHTS TM Connect directly to your market. Convetit is the network where teams and experts connect, providing custom research and actionable insights in days instead of months. President, Green Mountain & Associates Raoul Gruenberg President & CEO, Wireless Life Sciences Alliance Robert McCray Independent Industry Analyst & IoT Advisor, JessGroopman Jessica Groopman “At some point we probably will need to consider the impact of AI on this topic. Collecting trial data from IoT wearables is only step one. Making this raw data available for clinical use and evaluation is a second step. Ultimately, AI (think Watson) will be used to calculate, accelerate, modify, and judge the results to more quickly and accurately make decisions on the fate of new pharmaceutical drugs, biotech treatments, and devices.” President, Green Mountain & Associates Raoul Gruenberg President & CEO, Intetics Inc. Boris Kontsevoi Consultant Norma H. Antuñano CTO & Co-Founder, DunavNET Boris Pokric VP IoT Solutions, System Architectures & Technical Services, MayorTek LLC. Barry Caldwell Co-Founder & COO, RotoLab M. A. Greenstein President & Founder, Gravitonus Alex Kosik “Large technology organizations like IBM and Microsoft are advertising and trying to push the analytical and artificial intelligence capabilities of Watson and AI, claiming they’re helping to address some of the health related hypotheses. This is done through their access to information, implementation of search and learning methods, and algorithms over the information they have available, and even for screening persons and other life beings for clinical trials.” Consultant Norma H. Antuñano Artificial Intelligence Virtual reality, through the use of eyewear and other technologies, could become a significant contributor to clinical trials. Experts believe virtual reality will eventually be monitored neurologically, and used extensively for pain therapy purposes. When properly implemented, virtual reality could become an important tool for treating phobia, autism, PTSD, anxiety, depression, and even severe pain. It has the potential to reduce a patient’s dependency on drugs, while also mitigating or eliminating painful and stressful conditions. Virtual Reality “If we look just at eyewear alone for clinical research use for pain management there are niche markets and movements to analyze. Consider two companies, Applied VR and DeepStream VR, who are currently in contract with hospitals for clinical trials.” Co-Founder & COO, RotoLab M.A. Greenstein “From a patient experience standpoint, I think the application of virtual reality may be a powerful form of pain therapy, particularly when monitored neurologically.” Independent Industry Analyst & IoT Advisor, JessGroopman Jessica Groopman Blockchain, a system of decentralized information sharing that was first adopted in the financial sector, could become a powerful tool for clinical trials. This system could make information sharing more convenient while enhancing security and reliability. Although more development and possible oversight will be needed before mass-implementation, blockchain technology could result in better record keeping and sharing in the pharmaceutical industry. It will likely be used for many purposes, including corrections during trials, providing unbiased data, and reducing the costs of the clinical trial process. Blockchain “I think one of the most powerful trends from a technology standpoint is the adoption of blockchain to store EMR or even genomic data. The implications for this are manifold: efficiency in security, sharing, interaction, transaction, and storage. A blockchain enables all of these compared to the traditional structure of proprietary databases full of fragmented data and in a constant state of high vulnerability from a security and privacy standpoint. A second implication is the ability to safely share data across academic and medical research institutions for the development of better therapies, treatments, drugs, and insight into human health. Blockchain could help facilitate sharing between institutions much more easily and securely, but also directly between institution and patient or user.” Independent Industry Analyst & IoT Advisor, JessGroopman Jessica Groopman “Now, let's say, Company X comes up with a set of sensors, wearables, and monitors capable of providing real time automated monitoring of key vital signs (temperature, EKG, O2 saturation, level of glucose, etc.) along with subjective non-vital signs (physical activity level, pain intensity, rashes, other observations as defined by protocol) and have the capability to record all this data through blockchain both to medical provider and pharma company study sponsor. This would achieve several important milestones: the possibility of corrective actions can be foreseen and implemented when needed during trials; more reliable data quality without bias/placebo effect; more reliable study results; potentially less human subjects and cheaper trial design; and more complete products evaluation by FDA for marketing approval, as data can't be covertly modified.” President & Founder, Gravitonus Alex Kosik CONVETIT FORESIGHTS TM
