On July 12, 2022 Worldwide Clinical Trials, Inc. (Worldwide), the industry’s leading global, midsize, full-service contract research organization (CRO), reported its strategic partnership with Invitae, a leading medical genetics company (Press release, Invitae, JUL 12, 2022, View Source [SID1234616623]). The partnership makes Worldwide the first CRO to use Invitae’s Explorer tool – part of its real-world data platform that enables access to aggregated genetic testing results.

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Around the world, 300 million people have a rare disease, and 72 percent of those diseases have genetic origins (source). This partnership underscores Worldwide’s global leadership in rare disease research – one of its five major therapeutic areas of focus. A rare disease is generally considered to be a disease that affects fewer than 200,000 people in the United States or 5 in 10,000 people in the European Union at any given time. Patient populations for these diseases are small and geographically widespread – a challenge for achieving access to conduct patient education and rare disease clinical research.

Through this partnership, Worldwide has access to data insights based on prevalence, incidence, demographics, geography, and epidemiology for rare disease patients. This aggregated data enables Worldwide to recruit patients faster and pinpoint optimal study locations to help its sponsors uncover new and potentially lifesaving treatments for people suffering from rare diseases.

"This is a game-changer for both our sponsors and patients enrolled in clinical trials," said Peter Benton, President and Co-CEO, Worldwide. "Our unique access to Invitae’s database provides us with superior visibility to an aggregate-level view of patients we otherwise wouldn’t be aware of and enables us to offer advanced clinical trial strategies to our sponsors. This also helps us boost much-needed patient recruitment efforts, expanding our reach and ability to connect the right patients with the right clinical trial opportunities."

"Our strategic collaboration enables Worldwide to gain valuable insight into the genetic etiology of rare disease to help shape and improve the future of clinical trials," said Sean George, Ph.D., Co-Founder and CEO of Invitae. "Our cutting-edge tools empower Worldwide with the opportunity to set clinical trial strategies based on specific disease and geographic prevalence to yield the data needed to treat genetic disorders globally."

With access to Invitae’s aggregated genetic testing data, Worldwide has enhanced its capability to combat the complexities of rare disease trials through quicker visibility of where patients are – with the ultimate goal of providing much-needed and meaningful treatments.

Aligned with their commitment to excellence in rare disease clinical trial design, Worldwide team members are attending and contributing to the World Orphan Drug Congress at the Hynes Center in Boston. Speakers include Dr. Michael Murphy, Chief Medical and Scientific Officer, Worldwide, on the topic of "Endpoints – Where Are We Now and How Does the Development Process Need to Evolve?" on 12 July at 12:15 p.m. ET; and Derek Ansel, Senior Director, Therapeutic Strategy Lead, Rare Diseases, Worldwide, on the topic of "Trends & Challenges: Patient-Focused Rare Disease Research in 2022" on 12 July at 2:00 p.m. ET.