Discover how Phastar is making a vast contribution the life sciences community at DIA 2024

A leading CRO committed to corporate responsibility and sustainability, Phastar will be contributing to discussions and exploring solutions that drive progress in healthcare and make a positive impact on the world.

We asked Graham Clark, CEO of Phastar some questions before the company heads off to the event in just over a week.

What sustainability practices have your company implemented in its operations and how is your company contributing to the broader community and healthcare ecosystem?​

A purpose-led organisation, Phastar cares about making a positive difference in our industry, our community, and our world. We are a B Corp organization that strives to be a force for good and lead the CRO industry in corporate responsibility.

We have a Science Based Targets initiative- (SBTi) approved target of achieving net zero by 2035, which will be achieved through a combination of moving to greener facilities, managing our suppliers, and reducing our business travel. All offices use clean, renewable energy and track water usage, and we are in the process of moving to more sustainable suppliers. We are tracking our own and our suppliers’ greenhouse gas (GHG) data and aim to launch an electric vehicle scheme in the UK.

Our contribution to the wider community is vast. All staff are offered paid ‘volunteer days’, during which they can contribute their time to causes close to their hearts. We also name a “charity each year”, with 2024’s partner being Alzheimer’s UK. We will be co-ordinating money-raising efforts across all regions, both at a corporate and individual level, to ensure that we can make the biggest impact.

In addition, the Phastar Cares scheme provides non-profit organisations with free access to our expert statisticians, data scientists, data managers, and programmers. Currently, we are supporting Medicines Development for Global Health with a phase 3b study, evaluating the safety of a relatively new agent for river blindness. If successful, the work could contribute to a new model of care that should significantly accelerate progress towards the elimination of this devastating disease.

What major trends do you see shaping the future of the pharmaceutical industry and what are the biggest challenges your company is currently facing, and how are you addressing them? ​

The increasing use and sophistication of artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming data analysis. It can speed up validation processes, and spot inconsistencies and anomalies in live datasets, helping sponsors and CROs to respond to issues as they arise. What’s more, it can also be used to mine historical events, and guide future development plans.

It is a very exciting time for the industry, but pharma doesn’t necessarily have all the skills and capabilities it needs to utilize AI effectively. How developers collaborate with partners and software providers to access the right level of expertise needed to take them on this journey will be really important.

Can you talk about any recent or upcoming collaborations with other companies or research institutions?  ​

Phastar prides itself on being a collaborative member of the wider research ecosystem, and partnerships play a key role in our growth and innovation strategies. We look for areas where we can plug other companies’ technologies into our processes, to help our customers compress the R&D cycle without compromising quality. We also work with companies who want to plug us into their model, meaning they benefit from having a more complete service offering, and we can access opportunities we may otherwise have missed.

In May, for example, we announced a partnership with Beaconcure Inc., a leader in AI-enabled clinical data validation and automation. By combining their advanced technology with our extensive experience and vision in the clinical data analytics domain, we aim to enhance clinical review processes, streamline clinical trial development, and accelerate the delivery of lifesaving drugs.

What advancements have you made in clinical trial management and data analytics?​

By enabling fast, accurate assessment of vast volumes of operational, clinical and safety data, Phastar’s solutions quickly identify trends, outliers, and meaningful insights, driving more efficient processes and improving decision making.

We have been doing this for the last decade, but last year saw a significant update with the launch of our Clinical Intelligence Portal. It offers next-generation data visualizations, AI powered review & predictive modeling and bespoke, customizable dashboards for tailored reporting, high-quality data analysis, and real-time data access. This enables timely decision-making and rapid response to emerging signals, putting users in the driving seat of more efficient clinical trials.