On Tuesday, Pfizer announced the launch of a study that is believed to be the first all-electronic, home-based clinical drug trial to receive FDA approval, the Wall Street Journal reports.
The study is part of an effort by Pfizer and FDA to determine whether technology can make it easier for patients to sign up and participate in clinical trials.
Study Details
For the trial, researchers will attempt to replicate a 2007 study that compared the results of overactive bladder drug Detrol to a placebo.
The new trial will rely on various IT tools instead of traditional research methods. For example, researchers are recruiting participants through online advertisements. In addition, interested parties can learn about the study and enroll via the trial's website.
Trial participants will receive their medication in the mail, and they will need to have their blood drawn at a nearby clinic or during a home visit.
Throughout the course of the study, participants will use a mobile phone application to track symptoms of an overactive bladder. In addition, participants will use a secure website to complete online assessments four times during the trial (Corbett Dooren, Wall Street Journal, 6/7).