Pharma Pulse 1/8/25: Leveraging RWD for Synthetic Control Arms, Fear of COVID-19 Among Post-Infected Adults & more

2025 Trends: Leveraging Real-World Data for Synthetic Control Arms

Sujay Jadhav, CEO of Verana Health, highlights how the industry can use RWD to compare outcomes from treatment and non-treatment arms.

Fear of COVID-19 Among Post-Infected Adults Can Impact Quality of Life

COVID-19 survivors deemed the most highly impacted and fearful also reported the lowest health-related quality of life scores, indicating an association.

WuXi Bio to Sell Vaccine Facility to Merck for $500 Million

WuXi Biologics Cayman Inc. will sell a vaccine facility in Ireland to Merck & Co. for about $500 million as the Chinese company seeks to enhance its margins while continuing to navigate geopolitical tensions.

Grove Secures $4.9 Million to Transform Clinical Trials with Agentic AI

Grove AI has announced a $4.9 million seed fundraise led by A*, with participation from Afore Capital, LifeX Ventures, Pear VC, Upfront Ventures, and industry-leading angels. This investment will allow Grove to continue scaling its team and product to redefine clinical trials from siloed operations into participant-centered ecosystems driven by real-time data.

Erika Hanley-Onken, MBA, MEM on LinkedIn

Already geeking out here on AI in the new year - and so is the FDA!

People are saying AI is a “tool.” True, but too simplistic.
AI is not a "tool" - it's a massive & fundamental force multiplier 🚀🚀🚀.

It enhances the speed and magnitude of the vector [environment] in which you use it.

So then next questions are... well, where do you use AI? When? And how do you get started?

The classic answer "it depends" is true. The many ways it can support clinical-phase biotechs beyond R&D is absolutely incredible. And everyone is watching – including the #FDA, with yesterday's draft guidance on AI and regulatory decisions.

From a leadership perspective, the decision on where to initiate AI advances can have a profound and very rapid positive impact.

So excited for 2025 and being part of the adoption of this groundbreaking technology. The ROI in biotech and for patients will be amazing.

Let's connect on using AI to scale up startup biotechs and accelerate clinical programs. The future is bright!

Have news you want us to share in Pharma Pulse? Reach out to Editor Miranda Schmalfuhs