Thermo Fisher Scientific has launched a newly expanded Direct-to-Patient service offering to support decentralized clinical trials that aims to minimize clinical trial length and costs and maximize patient enrollment and participation rates. The offering now includes Clinical Site-to-Patient, Pharmacy-to-Patient and Depot-to-Patient services to enable clinical trial medication delivery directly to patients' homes.

Thermo's expanded Direct-to-Patient services build on its global Clinical Site-to-Patient program that launched earlier this year to provide uninterrupted access to investigational drug shipments without having to visit a clinic. The program can support any trial phase and a range of trial variables including Interactive Response Technology (IRT) systems, blinded/unblinded and home nursing providers. Clinical Site-to-Patient services are available in 47 countries and have supported more than 1,500 shipments to patients worldwide to help treat more than 25 different indications.

"Decentralized clinical trials have been on the rise even before the COVID-19 pandemic due to the location of study centers and the amount of time required for study visits being barriers to patient enrollment and ongoing participation," said Chris Armstrong, president, clinical trials business, Thermo Fisher Scientific. "As patients increasingly reach out to clinical trials sponsors to request receiving medication at home, it's critical to have a solution that delivers patients' medications safely and on time, without compromising trial quality and speed."