A new partnership announced today will offer seamless, end-to-end solutions that will drive progress in both patient care and research outcomes in inherited retinal diseases (IRD).
The collaboration between genomics and clinical trials specialist, Sano Genetics, the leading provider of mobile eye assessments for clinical research, 20/20 Onsite, and concierge patient recruitment expert, Clinical Enrollment, will create a simple, integrated digital process to support patients affected by IRDs. Combining real world testing with bespoke software, the new process will enable patients to undergo specialized screening and genetic testing for their condition – and to connect to appropriate clinical research.
Sano Genetics’ technology platform will facilitate genetic testing and counseling for IRD patients, in addition to providing a user-friendly virtual environment with resources to support and educate patients throughout their diagnosis and treatment journey. Clinical Enrollment will recruit and screen patient pipelines using curated content delivered via algorithm based advertising, manage the retrieval of medical records, and provide concierge services to help patients with logistics. 20/20 Onsite will provide in-person patient screening through their onsite ophthalmic delivery models, including mobile vision clinics. All three partners will support patients’ recruitment for relevant clinical trials.
IRDs are a group of progressive conditions in which at least one gene fails to work correctly, altering the structure and function of the retina and impairing vision. These conditions can affect people of any age, though vision loss often manifests in childhood. Many IRDs are degenerative, meaning some people will live with worsening vision impairment or blindness for their entire lives.
Recruiting participants for IRD trials requires complex multi-channel patient engagement, ophthalmology exams and genetic testing. The coordination of these elements can be expensive and time consuming for trial sponsors. Mismanaging these processes can lead to missed opportunities for trial volunteers who are waiting for new, better ophthalmology care.
This partnership between 20/20 Onsite, Clinical Enrollment, and Sano Genetics will streamline the process of identifying, screening, and enrolling participants in IRD research, accelerating timelines and bringing expert eye care directly to the point of need. This unified approach aims to save time and reduce costs for clinical teams, while enabling patients to participate in clinical research and gain access to both information and potential treatments more easily. The at-home solution will create opportunities to engage individuals from all regions of the US, including underserved communities in rural and under-resourced urban areas.
Charlotte Guzzo, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer, Sano Genetics, comments: “Our partnership with 20/20 Onsite and Clinical Enrollment will bring essential eye care and genetic testing to patients affected by inherited retinal diseases, particularly those in rural areas who often face significant barriers to accessing specialist services. This partnership leverages the strengths of all three organizations to create a seamless and patient-centered approach to screening, testing and research. By integrating our technology platform with our partners’ services, we aim to accelerate clinical trial recruitment and ensure patients are supported every step of the way, from diagnosis to treatment.”
Sonali Bloom, CEO, 20/20 Onsite, comments: “This partnership is a vital step forward in our mission to make critical vision care more accessible and inclusive for all patients including those with inherited retinal diseases. By combining 20/20 Onsite’s point-of-need eye assessments with Sano Genetics’ cutting-edge genetic testing and Clinical Enrollment’s patient recruitment expertise, we are not only accelerating clinical research timelines but also reaching more patients who struggle to access clinical research as a care option. Together, we’re breaking down barriers to care and ensuring that more people, regardless of their location or background, have access to life-changing treatments and the opportunity to participate in clinical research.”
Bryan Manning, Founder, Clinical Enrollment, comments: “As someone who has spent the better part of their personal and professional life investing in cures and treatments for IRDs, I couldn't be more excited to bring this partnership to the market and be on the cutting edge of moving patient enrollment into the future.”
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About Sano Genetics
Sano Genetics’ broad mission is to accelerate the world’s transition to precision medicine. Although accessibility to DNA sequencing has surged in the past decade, precision medicine studies have failed to keep up. They are still complex, time-consuming and costly, and many potentially life-changing treatments never see daylight. Sano simplifies precision medicine studies with a 360° platform that connects every stage: strategy consultation, patient finding, biomarker screening, patient engagement and analytics. The company works with pharmaceutical companies and biotechs to find, screen, and engage participants faster and more cost effectively; with researchers to increase efficiency and impact; and with patient advocacy groups to drive research with and for their communities. Headquartered in Cambridge, UK, Sano’s diverse team combines years of expertise in medical research, genetics and security-focused software engineering.
More information is available at https://www.sanogenetics.com/.
About 20/20 Onsite
20/20 Onsite is a healthcare services company providing clinical trial solutions that are transforming the delivery of vision care by radically improving access for patients through state-of-the-art Mobile Vision Clinics. Their integrated point-of-need service delivery platform has taken high-value eye assessment services directly to patients at work, at school, in neighborhoods, and at clinical research sites. During the pandemic, 20/20 Onsite began bringing ophthalmic assessments to patients in clinical trials or post-marketing safety surveillance programs across the country, increasing access to clinical research. They are enabling and accelerating fundamental trends toward the consumerization of care and the decentralization of clinical trials.
20/20 Onsite has served over 80,000 patients, including 18 clinical trials, met 100% of screening timelines across their operations, and consistently reports patient NPS scores of over 93.
About Clinical Enrollment
Clinical Enrollment (CE) is a full service patient recruitment company with expertise in clinical trials and approved therapies. With a background in e-commerce and a model committed to putting the needs of patients first, CE is uniquely skilled in reaching specific patient populations and aiding them in their care journey.
Founded by Brian Manning who previously led the fastest growing cause driven company in the country (IRD focused Two Blind Brothers), CE utilizes bespoke content driven by inhouse web design and videography teams, a highly personalized concierge patient recruitment team, and marries the pipeline together using behavioral targeting and algorithm based ad buying strategies.