Customer Stories
Achieving 50x ROI and 20% reduction in shipments with clinical supply forecasting and IRT/RTSM integration
About the customer
A top-20 European pharmaceutical company chose Trialzen to support two studies in forecasting and optimizing their clinical supply chain. These clinical trials were double-blind, randomized, global phase III trials. Since visit schedules and dispensing for the studies were very similar, clinical trial supply could be pooled across both.
Trialzen collaborated with the client sponsor to assist in modeling clinical supply forecasts for the studies, analyzing results, and producing ad-hoc reports to support monitoring, key decisions, and trial supply optimization. In addition, Trialzen analyzed gaps with its proprietary Forecast and Planning Solution (FPS) related to the two trials. This allowed us to quickly test and roll out new features to address the evolving needs of the trials.
“ Trialzen constantly adjusted their roadmap and kept delivering key features that allowed modeling the studies in more and more detail, on top of monitoring them on a monthly basis using actuals. ”
~Clinical Supply Manager at Client Sponsor
Quickly scaling clinical supply forecasting and RTSM integration capabilities
Trialzen quickly integrated with the reporting functionality of the sponsor’s IRT/RTSM—a SaaS known for its ability to handle complex trial demands. This integration populated our clinical supply forecasting and optimization platform with 80-90% of essential data points, while allowing the sponsor to adjust other variables based on different assumptions or scenarios. The sponsor was especially excited because Trialzen’s FPS solution allowed them to swiftly model the supply chain to make predictions and optimize the trial supply chain much more easily than traditional approaches.
With our product gaining more and more capabilities, we were able to model the trial protocols, the clinical supply chain, the RTSM resupply strategy, and the production plan with increasing accuracy. One of the studies was put on hold, while the other was subject to an increase in enrollment targets. This led to a protocol amendment so that pooled drug kits could be re-assigned, thus reducing waste from kit expiries.
Reducing site shipments by 20% with clinical supply forecasting solution for 50x ROI and zero risk
Halfway through the study, we released Trialzen FPS 1.0. At this point, we found an opportunity for 20% reduction in shipments to sites—without risk of missing patient doses. We did this by adjusting RTSM resupply parameters, and assessing the possible positive and negative impacts of different scenarios. This was a significant opportunity for cost savings given that the study had been live for an extended period of time. And it brings the opportunity for Trialzen to bring 50x (5,000%) return on investment to this trial sponsor.
Not only that, but Trialzen’s clinical supply forecasting and optimization solution allows this top-20 pharma company to reduce its carbon footprint with the reduced number of site shipments.
As of Q3 2024, our calculations have proven correct so far—with trial site shipments reduced—without affecting patients' receipt of scheduled doses. We continue to find ways to optimize RTSM parameters, packaging plans, and distribution for additional savings and to monitor the impacts our adjustments have on trial supply logistics and costs. The sponsor’s Clinical Supply Management team was thrilled with our performance, and this story was published on the client sponsor’s internal news.
“ The ability to create forecasts right from an RTSM extract is a game changer in usability. ”
~Clinical Supply Manager at Client Sponsor