MOBILE, Ala.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Slope.io, a clinical trial supply chain logistics company, is providing data-driven, automated services that customers say reduce costs and increase operational efficiency.
Artificial intelligence and machine learning is often touted as the “next big thing” on the horizon in healthcare. Slope.io is bringing machine learning algorithms to power supply chains for clinical trials today. The company provides automated and comprehensive, integrated services for clinical trial supplies for CROs and pharmaceutical and biotechnology sponsors.
Slope.io’s technology platform was originally developed for large e-commerce distributors and retailers to help make better inventory purchasing and shipping decisions. Applying the technology for clinical trials introduces a new level of automated logistical efficiency for clinical trial supplies by using data to drive automated, just-in-time delivery.
Oncology CRO Cancer Insight’s focus is discovering, developing and testing emerging immunotherapy biotechnologies. The CRO was growing quickly and busy coordinating the supply needs of four complex Phase II trials actively enrolling patients at more than 50 study sites. Conventional practices for supplying trials meant that sites are too often oversupplied with items that will expire if not properly managed and require too much space for storage. Cancer Insight realized that study sites, focused on treating patients, also were struggling with clinical supply coordination.
By partnering with Slope.io, real time clinical trial data feeds logistic automation workflows that eliminate labor intensive, repetitive manual tasks. The transition resulted in increased efficiency and saved significant amounts of time and resources. Study sites no longer had to order clinical supplies. Instead, sites were automatically receiving customer-tailored clinical supply kits in advance of each patient visit.
“Slope.io is providing the next generation of clinical supply chain services, using software and data-driven automation to replace manual processes,” said Steven White, Chief Operating Officer of Cancer Insight. “Slope.io has significantly reduced our inventory burden and made our studies much easier to conduct.”
E-Commerce Technology Adapted for Clinical Trials
The two founders of Slope.io built upon a logistics software system developed from their previous start-up company for e-commerce predictive forecasting. The company consulted with large distributors and retailers, including the nation’s largest e-commerce retailer, helping customers make better inventory purchasing and shipping decisions. The machine learning algorithm was refined using millions of data points. The software platform was re-engineered to launch Slope.io to address the needs of clinical trials. The patient-centered trial logistics incorporate patient data from many sources, including electronic data capture (EDC) and interactive response technology (IRT).
Slope.io’s predictive forecasting algorithms actively monitor clinical supply consumption, patient timelines, and supply kit expiration scenarios. The technology platform directs automated resupply to ensure study sites and patients get exactly what they need on time, on schedule and on budget.
“With conventional practices, clinicians spend too much time manually performing repetitive, logistical tasks. They are overwhelmed with excessive emails, phone calls and faxes. Sites are too often over supplied with items that will expire if not properly managed and require too much space for storage,” said Rust Felix, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Slope.io. “We take care of all the clinical trial supply logistics and operational complexities using trial data with automated logistics and predictive forecasting. The clients we serve can focus on what matters most – the patients and bringing new drugs to market.”
“The stakes are higher now than ever with escalating costs of developing new drugs estimated at $2.6 billion and a process that can take more than a decade and involve thousands of patients,” said Vivek Garipalli, co-founder of Clover Health and lead investor in Slope.io. “Bringing modern day, data-driven technology to improve the efficiency of clinical trials is what the market needs. Slope.io is truly the modern platform for clinical trial logistics.”
About Slope.io
Slope.io is a clinical trial supply chain logistics company. The company uses a modern, data-driven technology platform with predictive analytics to enable patient-centered, automated and end-to-end integrated services for clinical trial supplies. Trial data powers automated, just-in-time delivery of clinical supplies to study sites. For more information, please visit www.slope.io.
