eTMF market to grow sizably over next three years, ISR reports

26-Oct-2016 - Last updated on 27-Oct-2016 at 13:06 GMT

(Image: iStock/ArtemSam)

The adoption of eTMF solutions is accelerating – with more than 50% of investigative sites expected to have access to a sponsor/CRO eTMF application within three years.

This figure is according to a recent report published by Industry Standard Research (ISR), which assessed eTMF (electronic trial master file) application access to be around 20% today.

Andrew Schafer, President, Industry Standard Research (ISR) said the driving demand is “simply an evolution” of pharmaceutical and service providers to web-based applications.

Schafer compared the shift in the market to the adoption curve of other eClinical technologies, such as EDC, eCOA, ePRO, and IRT/IVR.

“Based on those services and what we have witnessed, early and high market penetration is key to long-term success in these markets,” he told us. “There are certainly clear leadership positions being established, but there is also a segment of providers that can easily climb into the top share positions.”

According to the report, survey respondents – including both pharma and CROs – recently interacted with two eTMF systems.

“It will be interesting, if the data hold and sites gain more access to CRO/sponsor eTMF systems, then sites will quickly be ‘burdened’ with having to navigate many more eTMF systems, just as they do with EDC systems today,” said Schafer.