patient-centered drug development at Merck Archives

Continuing Critical Patient-Centric Research Virtually during COVID19
Patient insights, Clinical trials, Marketing, Patient stories

Continuing Critical Patient-Centric Research Virtually during COVID19

Continuing Critical Patient-Centric Research Virtually during COVID19 By Richard Tsai The COVID-19 pandemic is forcing all kinds of businesses and research institutions to find ways of working that provide results similar to what we’re used to gaining from human social interaction. For example, being mindful of the time healthcare professionals need to dedicate to the pandemic has resulted in tremendous delays in HCP-based market research programs. Many clinical trial sites have temporarily suspended work that not only impacts existing enrolled patients but also greatly reduces recruitment. How can we continue critical research programs amidst these challenges? As [...]

Mar 2020By Richard Tsai|0 Comments

Caregivers and Treatment Decisions
Marketing, Patient insights, Patient stories

Caregivers and Treatment Decisions

Caregivers and Treatment Decisions By Kathleen Hoffman, PhD, MSPH Besides patients and doctors, who else influences treatment adherence at the consumer level? Marketing might look to one group that has multiple points of influence: Caregivers. Several studies confirm that caregivers are an important factor in a patient’s decisions, including decisions on medication. One study called "The Role of the Family in Treatment Decision Making by Patients With Cancer,” said, “Family opinions have a significant impact on patients’ treatment decisions and psychological well-being....Family care of patients typically involves monitoring patients’ medications.” Another study entitled, “Patient Centered Care: A [...]

Mar 2020By Kathleen Hoffman, PhD, MSPH|0 Comments

Caregivers: An Untapped Resource for Clinical Research
Patient insights, Clinical trials

Caregivers: An Untapped Resource for Clinical Research

Caregivers: An Untapped Resource for Clinical Research By Hannah Eccard, MA Caregivers provide substantial support to the health and well-being of patients in the US. One of their contributions involves helping patients search for, and participate in, clinical trials. Caregivers turn to Inspire for help finding and accessing clinical trials. My father was diagnosed [date] with stage 4 [type] cancer. He has been on numerous rounds of chemotherapy and last scan showed the cancer has progressed…We are now waiting news of any clinical trial he is eligible for…. He is in stable condition now without any issues... [...]

Mar 2020By Hannah Eccard|0 Comments

Merck’s Patient-Centric Clinical Trial Recruiting
Patient insights, Clinical trials

Merck’s Patient-Centric Clinical Trial Recruiting

Merck’s Patient-Centric Clinical Trial Recruiting By Kathleen Hoffman, PhD MSPH Merck boosts clinical trial recruitment with a patient-centric mindset Everyone in pharma knows that product success depends on the results of clinical trials -- but we don’t usually hear from the people who are involved in running them. Recently, four Clinical Research Managers (CRM) from Merck (known as MSD outside the United States and Canada) discussed how Merck is overcoming the barriers to clinical trial recruitment by adopting a patient-centric process -- a model that affects their trials top to bottom, from design through implementation. Each of [...]

Mar 2020By Kathleen Hoffman, PhD, MSPH|1 Comment