https://mailchi.mp/3390763e65bb/the-weekly-gist-june-24-2022?e=d1e747d2d8

The company plans to leverage its expansive retail footprint of 9,000 stores, as well as its pharmacy business and other care delivery assets, to connect patients with late-stage pharmaceutical trials either at retail clinics, at home, or virtually. To match patients with trials, Walgreens is partnering with health data company Pluto Health, which aggregates information across medical records, insurance claims, and other sources.

The Gist: The decentralized clinical trial business has been growing since the pandemic spurred a rapid switch to remote trial participation. This announcement comes roughly a year after competitor CVS announced its entry into the clinical trial space.

Most clinical research is centered in academic medical centers, which are disproportionally located in large urban areas, forcing many patients to travel long distances to participate. With large amounts of patient data and footprint spanning all fifty states, retail pharmacies are well-positioned to partner with investigators to reach patients who lack access to clinical trials today, given lack of financial resources or ability to travel.