A smoother way to test new therapies

The mSafety B2B platform from Sony offers numerous advantages over traditional trial data collection methods and consumer devices, both for researchers and participants.

Starting with researchers, mSafety offers continuous connectivity with a global roaming profile and data subscription plan, and it’s adaptable to many different types of clinical trials. Device fleets are easy to manage thanks to over-the-air updates and data analysis dashboards. Researchers can decide what data to collect, when to collect it and how frequently it should be reported.

For participants, mSafety offers a whole new level of simplicity and security. They don’t need to pair the device with a mobile phone or set up a special user account, and the global roaming profile ensures a reliable connection in any environment.

Overcoming the challenges of data collection

Irregular or unreliable self-reporting is replaced with automatic data uploads from the wearable device. This means trial results no longer depend on the participants’ commitment, competence, or on private devices and wi-fi connections - all of which are common obstacles to accurate and timely reporting.

mSafety works seamlessly indoors and out and can be configured to provide a wealth of contextual information, such as air quality or weather conditions. Thanks to bi-directional communication, participants’ adherence is continuously monitored and can be accessed by personnel in near real-time.

Ensuring data security

Another challenge often faced by researchers is how to protect the participants’ data. A company using off-the-shelf consumer wearables never fully controls the data it gathers, and data may be sent unencrypted to external company servers controlled by the manufacturer or vendor of the device. mSafety supports end-to-end encryption of customer application data, which means that none of the data form the customers’ application is visible in the mSafety backend.

Simpler for participants

Other methods of remote data collection typically require a companion technology such as smartphones or tablets, which complicates the set-up for participants, since they may face issues around wi-fi access and technology.

By comparison, mSafety is very easy to use and manage. The purpose-built watch arrives with the trial app preloaded, and it connects directly to researchers’ backend solution, which is itself tailored precisely to the study protocol.

Studies organised along traditional lines require participants to travel to regular appointments, which can be expensive in terms of time and cost for all involved. With mSafety, data is sent automatically via a wireless connection, minimising the need for face-to-face meetings.

Move to real-time data

Remote monitoring with other wearable solutions typically does not offer real-time data collection and upload, which means there’s a time lag between measuring and reporting. By contrast, real-time data from mSafety can be reviewed more quickly and efficiently, leading to swifter insights and prompt warnings of any adverse effects on the study group. There is even the potential for use of real-time AI analysis to spot trends and patterns.

Improve compliance

A Sony survey of 2.000 consumers in the USA found that 45% of them forgot to take their medication while managing a chronic condition. Compliance is a constant problem in clinical trials too, not only wasting time and money but also threatening the validity of the whole study. With the mSafety wearable, trial organisers are quickly alerted to non-compliance, so they can act fast and minimise the number of results (or participants) lost in this way.

Learn more about how to optimise your clinical trials with mSafety

*The mSafety study was conducted by independent brand intelligence firm Survata, analysing data from 2,005 consumers between May 29 and June 2, 2020.