Healthcare data technology company Seqster announced today that it has signed a three-year partnership with pharma giant Boehringer Ingelheim (BI) to its digital front door, an access point that allows patients enrolled in BI clinical studies to take stewardship of their clinical data. The digital front door is powered by Seqster’s operating system and allows patients to access and share their data as they see fit, while also simplifying patient consent, and engagement on a platform that provides patient health data security and privacy.
For BI, the new patient data tool will aid in the company’s collection of real-world data to help it speed drugs through clinical development leveraging real-world evidence (RWE) and outcomes data.
“To truly close the Real World Evidence (RWE) gap, we must think differently about the data that we access with full patient consent and control. Simultaneously, we must provide full transparency for patients who we engage with in all of our studies and trials. With the SeqsterOS we have a ready-to-go solution. Patient-centricity delivers high fidelity and high quality data. SeqsterOS will provide patient access and engagement with longitudinal RWD unlocking such previously unthinkable possibilities for Boehringer Ingelheim and the patients we serve,” said Paul Petraro, global head of Real World Evidence Centre of Excellence for Boehringer Ingelheim in a press release.
By using the Seqster platform as the backbone of its digital front door, BI can harmonize and visualize retrospective and prospective health data to create a comprehensive, longitudinal health record that empowers and engages patients while providing consented, de-identified data for studies in real-time. BI noted that it will accelerate its use of RWE across a range of therapeutic areas.
“The significance of our joint initiative with Boehringer Ingelheim cannot be understated,” said Ardy Arianpour, co-founder and CEO of Seqster. “There is a natural alignment between both organizations as we seek to accelerate data-driven discoveries and impact patient lives at scale. Empowering patients with access to the digital front door allows them to connect and engage with their data, leading to improved study retention as well as a willingness to consent to future studies.”
The partnership with BI is not Seqster’s first collaboration with a major pharmaceutical company looking to leverage its secure data environment for clinical research. In late 2020, the company signed a agreement with Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., to allow the pharma company to visualize longitudinal electronic health records (EHRs), genomic profiles (DNA), and wearable/fitness data across health systems for individual patients.
At the time of the Takeda deal, Arianpout noted: “The broad implementation of Seqster across therapeutic areas and business units positions both companies at the forefront of the global digital health transformation. Our technology will help Takeda accelerate transforming clinical development in the post-COVID era, improving patient engagement and services, and streamlining safety and efficacy demonstration.”
Earlier in 2020, Takeda had become an investor in Seqster both to help the company develop its research platform, and to aid in the integration of the Seqster operating system for Takeda’s use across research programs.
“Our funding of Seqster is a cornerstone of our digital health strategy, and further enables us to serve our patient community by advancing the deployment of innovative technology solutions,” said Bruce Meadows, head of Investments at Takeda Digital Ventures in a February 2020 press release. “Seqster’s technology is a very unique platform that addresses interoperability on not only a nationwide scale but also globally. Interoperability is one of the biggest barriers to applying precision medicine to clinical trials and patient engagement.”
