Buzzreach is engaged in the development of a clinical trial and clinical research platform business that leverages the power of technology to address the challenges of a 10-year-long drug development process, aiming to shorten the time required for drug approvals. Additionally, they are involved in an SNS business connecting pharmaceutical companies and patients.

Purpose of Joining DTRA

To create an efficient and patient-friendly environment for conducting clinical trials and specific clinical research, the adoption of decentralized clinical trials (DCT) is essential. However, the adoption rate of DCT in Japan remains low. According to a survey conducted by the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers' Association of Japan in August 2022, only 11.3% of companies had implemented decentralized clinical trials, while 52.8% responded that they had no plans to do so. There are still many challenges to overcome.

While there are numerous high-quality services for components of DCT such as eConsent, telemedicine, and decentralized modules conducted through home visits, there is currently a lack of comprehensive infrastructure to support DCT from the perspective of investigative sites and patients.

Based on a joint survey conducted by Buzzreach, BetaTrip, and PM-Link on awareness of clinical trials, in the survey of "what type of clinical trials they would recommend to their families," the module-based DCT environment ranked lower, and the only environment where they could participate in trials with their primary care physicians ranked higher in terms of convenience. Additionally, in the survey of "where they would prefer to obtain information about clinical trials," obtaining information from their existing primary care physicians or healthcare institutions with whom they have a pre-existing relationship ranked as a top choice.

As a result, it is believed that establishing an environment in which satellite sites, such as patients' regular physicians, can provide information on clinical trials and even handle certain trial procedures while considering Japan's cultural context will be a key point in promoting DCT in Japan.

With these considerations in mind, Buzzreach has joined DTRA to gain an understanding of the advanced DCT environment on a global scale and to contribute to the development of a DCT environment in Japan that aligns with the country's cultural nuances.

Comments from Takateru Inokawa, Co-founder CEO of Buzzreach

"As a specialized startup in the industry, we are honored to be the first to join DTRA. To promote the adoption of DCT in Japan, it will be crucial to determine to what extent our 'satellite sites,' which have a strong track record in patient recruitment, can be involved in essential aspects of clinical trials in the future. We will continue to make efforts to contribute to the efficient adoption and operation of DCT by stakeholders, while leveraging our expertise and incorporating the latest technology."