What's New in the Life Sciences Technology Space?

One of the common concerns within biopharma is not a matter of generating evidence per se. What makes it even harder is the possibility of sustaining a consistent stream of information through several studies or regulations over prolonged periods of time. As such, the issue of data continuity gains more importance as evidence generation software solutions are currently evaluated by potential buyers. Evidentiary initiatives are never limited to the sole scope of their objectives. Information retrieved once can become relevant several times over the life cycle of a particular product. Researchers may need to re-examine certain findings, compare results of treatment between different periods of time or study data acquired within separate research processes. It becomes especially complicated if there are no consistent information sources within an organization. Such considerations begin to impact the choice of evidence generation software. While the tools themselves are hardly ever used to produce any scientific insights directly, their contribution lies in facilitating further evidence processing and management. The problem becomes apparent as evidentiary research programs move past their initial objectives. It is rare for evidence generation initiatives to have a definite deadline or goal. Several years may pass between the start of the research process and its end, which means that there can be many staff changes, reconsiderations of previous assumptions or emergence of new questions. When information proves hard to find or analyze, the whole process can be slowed down significantly. The amount of effort spent tracking documents, verifying the integrity of information and understanding research history may prove to be considerable. At the same time, these aspects might not become a major focus of technology evaluation. Procurement conversations about evidence generation software solutions are shifting in this direction. Buyers' attention moves from operational effectiveness to information sustainability as evidence programs grow more extensive and complex. They are starting to see evidence generation software platforms as tools for sustaining knowledge over time rather than project management resources. This brings a change to the list of priorities for software developers. Features aimed at optimizing research processes are essential but buyers become concerned with data preservation as well. As such, information continuity becomes part of a solution's institutional memory function rather than just another aspect of project management. While data continuity may not be as prominent as some new trends in evidence analytics, it addresses a pressing problem faced by many biopharma teams. Evidence generation projects tend to outlast their budgets, original objectives or even the members of a team conducting research. For biopharma companies investing in such tools, the problem is shifting from acquiring new information to keeping existing data context-sensitive. ...Read more

Inventus, the only company in the world dedicated to creating purpose-built devices and technology solutions exclusively for clinical trials, has made a key appointment from Google to its advisory board. Mark Bennett, a Vice President at Google, will be working with Inventus in the capacity of Board Adviser. Bennett has more than two decades in senior leadership roles at companies including Microsoft, Sainsbury’s & Tesco. He is currently Google’s Vice President of Knowledge & Information Partnerships for the EMEA region, leading product partnerships for Search, Gemini, Maps, Commerce, Research and Ads . Bennett has spent more than 10 years in Google Partnerships across a range of teams including Knowledge & Information, Android, Google Hardware and Google Play. Bennett’s previous roles at Google include VP for Platforms and Devices Partnerships for the APAC region and Vice President for Google’s Global Android Partnerships. Bennett said he was excited to support Inventus - known for its innovative and industry leading clinical trial solutions - to help map out its next phase of growth. He said: “I’m delighted to be advising the board at Inventus. I’m impressed by the growth and strategy of the company and am looking forward to helping them accelerate that trajectory. I’ve been intrigued by the biomedical sciences sector for some time and seen how AI is an increasingly important factor for the industry. I’ll be advising Inventus on how technology can be harnessed to enhance the efficiency, effectiveness and overall impact of clinical trials, helping bring better treatments to patients faster.” Bennett is the second key appointment from Google at Inventus in recent months. Earlier this year, Jon French, Managing Director of Google’s Android Global Business, was appointed Group Managing Director at Inventus. Commenting on Bennett’s new role, French said: “I could not be more excited to welcome Mark to the Inventus advisory board. I know personally what an incredible leader Mark is. His expertise and perspective will be tremendous assets to our business. “As Inventus enters its next phase of growth, his experience, judgement and strategic vision will help shape our direction and strengthen our ability to achieve our long-term ambitions. At the heart of everything we do at Inventus is a commitment to help bring life-changing treatments to patients faster.” Bennett is the second appointment to the Inventus advisory board – he joins Stacy Hurt, chief patient officer at Parexel, who was welcomed as a Board Adviser in the summer. Parexel is a global clinical development partner. Hurt leads efforts to integrate patient perspectives into drug development and healthcare at their earliest stages. Hurt has more than two decades of leadership experience in the pharmaceutical space. She has worked for GlaxoSmithKline, Transdermal Therapeutics and Colon Cancer Coalition across sales, training and development and has over a decade of experience in patient advocacy. Steve Sanghera, CEO and Co-Founder of Inventus, said: “I am delighted to announce the exceptional appointment of Mark Bennett to the Inventus Board. Mark brings world class technology leadership and knowledge which will be instrumental in guiding our journey as we navigate how AI will shape and influence clinical trials. Mark’s appointment reflects the continuous growth of Inventus within the industry. Together with Stacy, the expertise that we now have at Inventus also demonstrates our commitment to building a business that focuses on technological excellence and the patients which sit at the heart of a clinical trial.” ...Read more