Drug development has long been about the most promising molecules and scientifically robust evidence of efficacy. But pharmaceutical companies have started to look beyond that. They’re communicating and collaborating with patients and clinical trial participants using real-world data (RWD).

Captured by healthcare organizations, data related to patients and their health allows researchers to generate a better view of a drug therapy’s safety and efficacy. Using RWD, they can see with stunning clarity patients’ real experiences. Some examples:

• RWD collected from electronic health records can be used in lieu of a control group—helpful when recruiting is a challenge.
• Feedback from patients shows how treatment affects their quality of life—and how the product is being received in the market.
• Through clinical registries, researchers can see how a marketed drug affects a broader range of the population than is seen in a typical trial.

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