Cloud Computing for Pharma: The Road to Digital Transformation Posted on September 18, 2024November 14, 2024 by Marta Fetsatchyn Massive challenges like the global pandemic forced many industries to rethink how they handle data storage, and pharma was no exception. When COVID hit, the urgent need to accelerate drug development meant shrinking timelines from years to months, with no room for compromises on quality. Cloud computing was one of the facilitators of this shift. Cloud-based tools allowed pharma companies to capture and share clinical data between research teams both securely and quickly. The rest is history: vaccines were delivered worldwide in record time, saving millions of lives. In this article, we will explore the main use cases for cloud computing in pharmaceutical industry, its benefits, and the challenges that still need to be addressed. Intro to Cloud Computing in Pharma Cloud computing gives life sciences companies a flexible way to handle data storage. Instead of pouring money into physical data centers and servers, they can access remote, on-demand, storages as needed. This allows them to scale quickly, gain a competitive edge, and save money for more important things like research and development. Let’s not forget the massive amount of data the life sciences industry generates daily. Cloud-based systems help eliminate data silos, allowing companies to better use their data to drive business growth. Cloud computing empowers life sciences organizations to transform various business processes and adopt innovative technologies like artificial intelligence (AI). Why Cloud Computing is Crucial in the Pharmaceutical Industry Cloud technologies have revolutionized the life sciences industry. Let’s explore the areas that have seen the most significant changes. Cloud computing accelerates drug discovery The gap between companies investing in cloud technologies and those avoiding it is set to grow. For example, AstraZeneca, which relies on cloud solutions to accelerate drug research and development, will likely get products to market faster than any company that has resisted this digital transformation. “Ultimately, the cloud is the latest example of Schumpeterian creative destruction: creating wealth for those who exploit it; and leading to the demise of those that don’t.” – Joe Weinman, Senior VP at Telx. This innovative approach has brought more than 40 successful drug discovery projects to AstraZeneca. Thanks to its partnership with AWS, it can conduct 51 billion statistical tests in less than 24 hours. By the end of 2026, the company will be able to analyze two million genomes. Isn’t scalability one of the most important goals each drug manufacturer is striving for? Thanks to cloud computing, research teams can collaborate and share their findings securely and efficiently. This allows scientists to analyze lab results and draw conclusions more quickly. Life sciences companies can adopt third-party software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions for drug discovery or build custom tools in collaboration with a cloud provider. For instance, many pharmaceutical companies use cloud-based platforms for remote research and development labs, regulatory compliance, and clinical trial data management. Cloud computing facilitates effortless collaboration Cloud computing makes it easier for life sciences companies to communicate and collaborate globally. With cloud platforms, professionals can share ideas, seek second opinions, and fill knowledge gaps faster, speeding up breakthroughs in healthcare. Today, cloud-based collaboration tools help stakeholders keep communication open at every product lifecycle stage, from discovery to manufacturing. Cloud applications also let healthcare providers (HCPs) cooperate with patients, track their side effects, and prompt patients to seek care when needed. For example, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) teamed up with Oracle to develop a cloud-based health check system that allowed the reporting of COVID-19 vaccine side effects. This quick reporting helped the CDC gather crucial data on the vaccine’s effectiveness, contributing to its further improvements. Medical journals then used this data to debunk myths about the vaccine circulating online and raise public awareness about the deadly virus. Cloud computing provides secure data sharing for clinical trials High dropout rates in longitudinal trials are a big concern for drug manufacturers. An analysis of 71 randomized controlled trials published in leading medical journals shows that 18% of trials have a dropout rate of 20%, which leaves room for biased clinical results. Why do so many patients leave the clinical trials? Many are still designed with life sciences companies in mind, requiring patients to make frequent hospital visits without compensation for their time or effort. Cloud computing is helping to change this by enabling decentralized clinical trials. Source: Pharma Technology Focus Cloud solutions have shifted the burden away from patients. With decentralized trials, patients can now report their health status from the comfort of their homes. With less time commitment and fewer scheduling conflicts, it is no surprise that dropout rates have decreased dramatically. Besides, cloud computing pairs well with AI, allowing scientists to analyze clinical trial data with surgical precision. This is especially helpful in recruiting participants and designing the trials. The cloud also merges with other technologies like electronic health records (EHRs), wearables, telemedicine, and mobile apps, enhancing patient engagement and communication. Sano Genetics is a great example of a cloud app that connects patients with clinical research opportunities tailored to their genetic data. Its Virtual Waiting Room provides personalized content to keep users engaged between trial stages, which helps boost compliance rates. Cloud computing helps to comply with regulations Cloud technology helps life sciences companies navigate a heavily regulated industry without the need to gather physical dossiers. The regulatory submission process has become much smoother and quicker. The regulatory bodies can now access company data directly from cloud servers and track drug safety in real-time. Traditional pharmacovigilance leads to time-consuming manual reporting. Cloud computing makes real-time monitoring possible, allowing timely detection of drug safety signals. The data submitted to the cloud lets regulators perform instant analysis and expedite approvals. What’s more, pharmaceutical regulations change and evolve rapidly, making compliance quite tricky. Cloud technology empowers companies to trace regulatory changes and revise processes and procedures accordingly. Cloud computing improves supply chain resilience Counterfeit products are a serious issue in the life sciences industry, posing a significant threat to patient health and safety. Cloud computing enhances transparency in the supply chain by enabling drug manufacturers to trace every component back to its origin. Real-time monitoring of a drug’s location drastically reduces the possibility of errors and prevents counterfeiting. Cloud-based systems collect data at every stage of the drug’s journey, combating the grey market and ensuring product authenticity. Cloud computing enhances pharmaceutical marketing efforts It is no secret that great marketing starts with having complete, high-quality data. Traditional on-premises systems often struggle with data silos, making it hard to share information and perform solid data analysis. This stifles effective customer segmentation, personalization, and omnichannel marketing efforts. Cloud computing solves this by allowing brands to centralize terabytes and petabytes of data securely. Marketing teams can easily collaborate with other departments and clients, sharing documents and files to create compelling campaigns. Additionally, advanced cloud analytics provide key insights into how to guide HCPs and patients through the sales funnel. It gives marketers a clear view of what really matters to customers – and what is holding them back. Let’s say an HCP browses a pharmaceutical company’s website. Cloud data analytics can monitor the pages they explore, the links they click, and even the areas where they linger. Marketers can then leverage this data to tailor personalized content that meets their specific needs. Not to mention, this kind of personalization is possible in real-time. Cloud technology coupled with AI data analytics helps life sciences companies gain data-driven insights and create engaging, relevant content on the fly. Example of real-time content personalization By analyzing the HCP’s actions on the website, AI-driven cloud analytics can choose the most relevant pre-approved modules and create content that is tailored to their immediate needs. Since customer preferences can shift rapidly, this gives pharmaceutical brands a significant competitive edge in engaging their audience. Let’s Talk Numbers The cloud market is piping hot right now. According to recent statistics, 95% of companies in sectors like public services, manufacturing, IT and technology, retail, and finance now use cloud solutions. It is no surprise that the global market is growing at a compound annual rate of 20%. Another key finding: 96% of respondents said cloud-based systems have exceeded their expectations. However, the survey also shows that only 42% of companies have fully moved to the cloud, while 55% still rely on on-premises solutions to some extent. If the cloud is so effective, why are so many companies digging in their heels and resisting innovation? Let’s explore this further in the section below. Cloud Computing in Pharma Today: Challenges & Solutions Anything connected to the Internet can be vulnerable to cyberattacks. Moving your data from in-house servers to the cloud exposes your system to potential security risks. In addition, this change shifts responsibility for security from your organization to a third-party cloud provider, which can be difficult, especially if there are trust issues. However, if you choose a reliable cloud vendor like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, or Microsoft Azure, these extreme worries are often overblown. Leading providers typically have hundreds of experts dedicated to data security, ensuring your data remains safe and is not accessed by unauthorized third parties. Data sovereignty is another key concern for most pharmaceutical brands as they decide whether to move to the cloud. Personal data is subject to the legal regulations of the country where the individual resides, which can make cloud adoption painful. For instance, if you are based in Greece and want to work with a trusted provider like AWS, you could run into data sovereignty issues, as AWS does not have a data center in your country. To address this, many major cloud providers set up data centers in various countries to enable local data storage. Yet, they must navigate different internet governance regulations to make this happen. Moving to the Cloud with Ease These days, nearly every sector has its own success story of moving to the cloud. However, this shift did not happen overnight. It has brought significant changes to companies of all sizes, impacting everything from business operations to internal processes. If you want to change your infrastructure, the Viseven team is here to guide you through the entire journey. We have over a decade of expertise delivering our cloud-based content experience platform, eWizard, and helping numerous pharmaceutical companies make a smooth move to the cloud. Our cloud services also cover cloud architecture design, consulting, management, DevOps as a service, and cloud cost optimization. Ready to turn the page to the cloud-based future? Get in touch, and we will reach out to you soon.
Patient Support Programs: What Are They & What They Offer Posted on June 4, 2024November 12, 2024 by Andrii Nikulin We’ve all been there: one day you get sick and a physician prescribes multiple medications to put you back on your feet, each with specific instructions and potential side effects to monitor. On top of that, you’re faced with navigating the maze of insurance approvals, high out-of-pocket costs, and a general lack of understanding about your own treatment options and plan, all while being sick and dazed. Sounds familiar and quite overwhelming, doesn’t it? This is the reality for many patients, which is why an increasing number of pharmaceutical companies are rolling out Patient Support Programs (PSPs) — comprehensive initiatives designed to empower and guide individuals through their healthcare journeys. These programs go beyond just providing medication, they offer a multifaceted approach to supporting patients from diagnosis to managing their condition long-term. Let us take a closer look at the Patient Support Programs, their development and implementation process, the different types, challenges they face, and their future within healthcare delivery. What are Patient Support Programs (PSPs)? Patient Support Programs (PSPs) are initiatives, that often come in the form of custom mobile apps, offered by pharmaceutical companies to provide education, resources, and services to patients prescribed certain medications or undergoing specific treatments. Source: Deloitte, Common patient support activities At their core, patient support programs aim to break down common barriers that hinder successful treatment outcomes. Many PSPs provide financial assistance, copay assistance, or free drug supplies for eligible patients. Patients struggling with adherence will find medication reminders, symptom trackers, and direct nurse support lines. Educational resources and counseling services are available to help patients better understand their condition and regimen to avoid confusion. But PSPs don’t just benefit patients, they’re a strategic investment for pharmaceutical companies as well. By enhancing medication adherence and persistence, PSPs drive increased product utilization and revenue. They also allow companies to collect invaluable real-world data, build brand loyalty, and demonstrate a genuine commitment to improving lives beyond the bottom line. How Pharma Companies Can Implement Patient Support Programs Source: IQVIA To develop the best-in-class patient support programs, you need to collaborate closely with stakeholders like business strategists, and medical, pharmacovigilance, and sales teams. Program development — Pharma companies first identify medications or disease areas that would benefit from enhanced patient support. They assess the needs of those patient populations and design the services or resources to be offered through the PSP. This includes any financial assistance, educational materials, app development, nurse counseling services, other features. Contracting vendors — Many pharma companies outsource part or all of the PSP operations to specialty vendors and third-party service providers. These vendors are contracted to handle tasks like operating call centers, distributing copay cards, developing apps and websites, and providing nursing staff. Data integration — The patient support services generate valuable data that needs to be integrated back to the pharma companies. This requires building data platforms and processes to aggregate information from vendors on patient demographics, medication utilization, clinical outcomes, and patient-reported data. Enrollment channels — Pharmaceutical companies work to create easy enrollment channels so patients can access the PSP. This includes physician outreach so providers can refer patients, as well as direct-to-patient channels like websites and call centers. Staff training — On the pharma side, internal staff like sales reps and medical liaisons are trained on the details of the PSP offerings so they can appropriately educate providers and patients. Patient outreach — Pharma companies conduct direct-to-patient outreach and marketing to drive awareness and utilization of the PSP services. Tactics like social media, targeted advertising, and advocacy group partnerships are employed. Metrics and analysis — PSP performance is measured through ongoing data analysis of metrics like program enrollment, persistency rates, patient satisfaction surveys, and ROI calculations looking at the PSP’s impact on medication adherence. Continuous improvement — Based on patient feedback and operational data, pharma companies continually refine and enhance their patient support program offerings over time to optimize their investments in these comprehensive patient support initiatives. While PSPs require significant cross-functional coordination, pharmaceutical companies see them as valuable pharma marketing tools for improving product performance and patient outcomes. Types of Patient Support Programs PSPs differ based on the therapeutic sector and particular medications, however, their main goal is to provide access and help patients overcome barriers to healthcare access and adherence, ultimately improving their health outcomes. Patient assistance programs Patient assistance programs are mainly offered in the U.S. to lessen the financial burdens and help patients and their caregivers get the medication. These programs help review the current insurance coverage, assist with prior authorization if needed, provide trial and copay card information, and check if a patient is eligible to enroll in a financial assistance program. Patient education programs Patient education programs aim to improve patients’ and caregivers’ understanding of the disease and the medication or devices that treat it. Patients and caregivers can receive instructional assistance from medical providers over the phone or via digital platforms. In addition, medical writers create patient-friendly visual educational materials. Patient education also entails adherence outreach meaning patients are followed up to share their experiences and struggles in order to be assisted and encouraged to stay adherent. Provider support A crucial strategy of patient support programs is equipping healthcare providers with resources to streamline patient access to medications and enhance education. Programs supply providers with sample products, device demos, FAQ materials, visual guides, copay cards, financial assistance info, and more. This allows providers to initiate therapy seamlessly. Additionally, PSPs assist providers by providing billing and coding support to ensure proper reimbursement for medication administration services. Challenges Associated with PSPs for Pharma Different types of PSPs offer a wide variety of benefits to life science businesses and healthcare facilities. So why doesn’t every company and clinic just use one? Well, there are certain challenges to implementing patient support programs that we must look at. One major challenge is the substantial cost and resource intensiveness involved in developing and operating comprehensive PSPs. Funding components like call centers, copay assistance, technology solutions, and nursing staff support can be extremely costly, especially when trying to scale these programs. Integrating data from multiple vendors and platforms delivering PSP services is technically complex. Creating unified views of the patient journey and outcomes requires robust data management capabilities. Ensuring regulatory compliance around areas like product promotion, privacy, data sharing, and avoiding improper inducements is also an ever-present obligation. PSPs have to meticulously follow the rules and implement tight compliance processes to steer clear of any violations. Quantifying the return on investment is another major hurdle. While PSPs aim to improve medication adherence and overall outcomes, pinpointing their precise impact is difficult given the many variables at play in disease management. Even with promotional efforts, driving patient awareness and adoption of PSP offerings can be an uphill battle, particularly among harder-to-reach populations. Personalizing the experience to diverse patient needs, health literacies, and preferences is resource-intensive. Coordinating priorities and sharing data among all the stakeholders — pharma companies, providers, payers, and vendors — adds another layer of complexity with so many parties involved. Sustaining long-term engagement is tough too, as patients’ circumstances continually evolve. And in an increasingly crowded PSP market, differentiating your program and delivering a truly superior experience gets more challenging by the day. Overcoming these hurdles demands strategic long-term planning, investments in robust technology platforms, effective vendor management, and a commitment to continually enhancing offerings based on real-world insights over time. It’s a major undertaking, but one that pharmaceutical companies are prioritizing to support patients and steward their product portfolios effectively. Future of PSPs in Custom App Development There’s no denying the growing demand for digital patient services in the pharmaceutical industry these days. 48% of adults are already using or interested in pharma’s digital offerings, and a whopping 68% of physicians are more likely to prescribe a product backed by solid patient support and services. Pharmaceutical companies clearly recognize this trend, with most, if not all, rolling out various digital engagement programs in recent years. And it’s not just about checking boxes anymore. New technologies are opening up fresh channels and enabling more holistic, comprehensive patient support initiatives. A recent study highlighted a clear shift away from that transactional mindset focused solely on enrollment and training. Instead, there’s a move towards more collaborative, integrated programs laser-focused on truly empowering patients to live well with their conditions. Think tailored interventions, behavior modification, and support extending to caregivers and beyond. These trends, coupled with digital innovations and better access to patient data, present an exciting opportunity for pharma. They can now craft bespoke healthcare solutions finely tuned to the unique needs of different patient groups in a targeted, value-additive way. And the potential upsides are huge — online disease management services have been shown to improve chronic care outcomes by up to 10%. Final Thoughts At the end of the day, patients crave simplicity and customization so they can take ownership of their wellness journey. They want solutions intuitive enough to fully participate in their own care. By tapping into new technologies, pharma can finally deliver on those desires with patient-centric digital offerings that resonate on a personal level. Patient support programs by themselves do not drive differentiation or boost trust and engagement. Programs have to be well-designed and provide patients with personalization. Fortunately, the technology is there to help pharmaceutical companies achieve these goals. If you want to develop a user-friendly custom healthcare app to boost your patient support program, don’t hesitate to contact Viseven. We have nearly 20 years of experience in pharma solutions development and can make your vision a reality.
