The Essential Role Of Interactive Response Technology (IRT) In Clinical Trial Supply

By Dave Holly, Senior Manager, IRT Development and Operations, Sharp Clinical Services and Eddie Montoya, IRT specialist, Sharp Clinical Services

Interactive response technology (IRT) and randomization and trial supply management (RTSM) systems provide clinical trials with essential software services such as subject enrollment, inventory management, and study drug dispensing. IRT is used to manage patient interactions and drug supplies during clinical trials and perform a range of functions for sponsors, drug depots, and investigative sites. But is that all it can do? Are today’s IRT Systems just performing the same services of 10 or even 20 years ago?

Increasingly elaborate international clinical trials demand a smart, streamlined approach and, in the right hands, IRT can provide just that. They’re a powerful tool for accelerating a product’s progress to launch and making the management of trials simpler. However, the selection of an IRT vendor is often considered late-on in the planning of a clinical trial, which leaves sponsors at great risk of spending money on wasted drug and unplanned resupply shipments.