LabConnect, LLC provides central laboratory and support services for biopharmaceutical, medical device and, contract research organizations (CROs). The company has worked with Symphony Clinical Research, an in-home clinical service provider, on 17 studies over 12 years.
This week, the companies announced a new strategic collaboration that will focus on integrating their services to support the clinical research industry, specifically to advance home-based clinical trials.
“We both have a strategic focus on managing highly complex studies, so it’s a natural fit,” said Eric Hayashi, president and CEO. “Sponsors benefit from the simplicity we bring to managing complex home or alternate-site-based clinical trials.”
Hayashi told us the goal of the strategic alliance is “to jointly improve the delivery of home-based clinical trials to all stakeholders, including sponsors, sites, home health care practitioners and investigative sites.”
The companies look to accomplish this by developing new processes and tools, including a clinical kit “optimized” for home health nurses, reporting processes “designed with home visits in mind” and clinical collection kits for inbound and outbound shipping, said Hayashi.
Together, the companies will provide laboratory testing, peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) processing, reporting, and logistical services – and develop informational materials to educate clients on the process.
“There are a lot of questions regarding how this process will work,” Hayashi said. “We plan to work collaboratively to provide information on how clients may improve their clinical trial conduct through home-based visits.”