Patient-centered clinical research for evidence-based outcomes

Building a patient-centered digital solution & dataset with Janssen

How an innovative digital health solution with smartwatch integration supports psoriatic arthritis patients in clinical trials

Multinational pharmaceutical company Janssen saw a need to go beyond traditional clinical trial measurements to better understand the impact psoriatic arthritis has on people’s daily lives.

Using our signature co-creation and Lean Healthcare Innovation Framework processes, we worked with Janssen to develop an innovative and highly engaging sub-group study to collect patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) for psoriatic arthritis.

The problem
Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) symptoms like morning stiffness and fatigue can be debilitating. But the subjective and diverse experiences of people who have PsA make it a difficult condition to study in traditional clinical trials. To develop effective treatments, clinical research needs to be more directly informed by patient experience.

The innovation
A powerful digital health service that’s centered around the patient’s experience.

Using a smartwatch to collect longitudinal patient data and digital biomarkers for calories, movement and sleep, Janssen found a unique way to engage patients and capture valuable data on the impact of PsA on sleep and activity levels.

The service also collects weekly digital patient questionnaires, patient-reported outcomes (PROs), and other health-related quality-of-life indicators to keep participants motivated and engaged.

The outcome
By leveraging the power of digital health services and co-creating with people living with PsA, Janssen is building a more patient-centric approach to clinical trials. This means future research into PsA will yield more inclusive and holistic insight into how the disease affects individuals.

And in the short term, it’s a win-win for all: Users of the digital health service benefit from highly relevant personal suggestions for managing their PsA. Janssen benefits from robust evidence-based R&D and unique market differentiation.