ta-scan by MDC Partners
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News & Events
Press Release - ta-Scan version 3.5 released
Introducing ta-Scan Version 3.5, a semantically driven business intelligence system.
Version 3.5 has a number of very important system enhancements:
• Capture new data such as healthcare professional’s payments
• Complete FDA site inspection data
• Aggregated information on 6,000 EMA medical and scientific experts
• 600,000 research organizations assessed by academic and clinical research pedigree, therapeutic expertise and experience with 14,000 drug classes
• 172 countries assessed for clinical research potential
• 2.6 million healthcare professionals ranked and profiled
Conclusions of DIA Clinical Forum and Presentation Download
“This DIA event was, in my opinion, extremely successful. The DIA departed from the usual themed track approach and created dynamic cross-functional themes which had interesting breakout sessions and expert debates. The standing of the speakers and the delivered content was truly on the mark and participants received expert tips on many industry challenges.
A couple of clear messages emerged from this year’s Clinical Forum:
• The need to realign public trust in the clinical research process. Over 75% of participants voted that our clinical research customers have lost faith in our processes. Trust needs to be rebuilt.
• Patient recruitment still plagues successful trial fulfillment. No real new ideas emerging and social media still seems an evolving strategy, though still awaiting regulatory direction.
• Emerging territories, while offering exceptional commercial potential, clinical research operations are continuing to be challenging and regulatory changes which frustrate many new study initiatives.
• Interestingly, many speakers alluded to the fact that complex and novel clinical research is moving towards the CRO sector. Some conclusions drawn could be that many major companies are mitigating risk by placing projects with experienced CROs when projects fall outside their traditional therapeutic comfort zone.
• Data standardization and electronic healthcare records still seem to be a thorny issue between the US and EU regulatory philosophies. Very much a question of ‘watch this space’.
• More surprisingly there seems to be a developing consensus by the FDA and EMA that the clinical trial process has become too arduous for our investigators. The talk is positive to expedite regulatory processes, though the hard endpoints are a little more elusive.
In general the meeting was multi-disciplinary and cross-functional. Probably one of the better DIA events that I have attended. Secondly, the DIA are attempting to get closer to the patient advocacy groups, who I must say, didn’t pull their punches describing Pharma’s seemingly antiquated clinical trial model. The quote of the conference was “perfect health is just an incomplete diagnosis” from the President of the Alzheimer’s Association.”
David J. Cocker
If you want to download David Cocker’s presentation, please click here.
ta-Scan News Brief
In 2011 we consolidated many exciting features of ta-Scan business intelligence system. The public activation of the EMA, EudraCT trial registry and multiple corporate websites disclosing data has enriched outreach, widened data depth and improved accuracy. But we are not stopping here.
Our open market dialogue has always been the driving force behind our development policies and client feedback has helped shape many improvements that fit with our clients’ evolving business processes.
Major system changes
Significant changes in our robotic foundation will occur towards the end of the 2011. While we are comfortable that our concept provides a sustainable value proposition to our clients, we strive to continually improve the depth and quality of the data.
ta-Scan has always provided a timely snap shot of the worldwide Pharma development space. However, data refreshes always overwrote the previous version. As of October 2011 we will launch DeltaCheck 1.0. This release will time stamp all changes in captured web information. DeltaCheck 1.0 will offer many new advanced algorithms and visualizations. This technology enhancement will benefit our users:
• Monthly update cycle
• Evolution monitoring (a new colour rendering system indicating date and data timeline)
• Enhanced meta-analysis, including trends in all our traditional data classes
• Custom GUI and email alerts
Site selection automation (The Wizards)
The terabytes of public data on the internet today rarely render one clear and faithful picture. However, through our intelligent meta-analysis techniques we expose trends, statistics and enable a user to test multiple planning scenarios based on evidence.
Indexing the indices
The challenge of many web resources is the ability to find what you are looking for. The better the index, the better the search result. ta-Scan has advanced indexing algorithms to pin point references in complex textual information. Whether looking for key words in trial inclusion criteria or novel biomarker, ta-Scan semantically links multiple websites to create a cluster of indices enabling more precise user search criteria.
ta-Scan Version 3.4 is now live
ListBuilder 2
We are delighted to introduce the ListBuilder module –accessible from the homepage-, which makes it straightforward to build lists of medical experts, sites or trials based on your specific criteria. Your customized lists will extract data from the ta-Scan central database which has over 2 million individuals and 600,000 organizations. Through a user friendly wizard, you will be able to generate downloadable lists tuned to your needs. The ListBuilder is populated with over 20 useful presets enabling fast access to complex algorithms. We have built an easy to use graphic interface which compresses multifaceted parameters into a one simple graphic dialogue with the user. You can produce lists combining multiple indications and geographies, plot organizations or individuals by therapeutic experience and by time points.
Click here to see more information on ListBuilder 2
Expanded data sources
- Integration of European (EudraCT trial registry), expanding European trial resolution and sponsor activity
- New data sources have been introduced to the system:
Corporate healthcare payment lists
20,000 Healthcare professionals updated
Ancillary information in organization drilldown such as PET scanners - Organizations have now been classified to include CROs (Contract Research Organizations)
- New regional radar graphic for study setup time
- Undisclosed site details from trial registries have now been semantically inferred to identify sites based on factors such as literature and other internet footprint factors
Improved Search Indexes
The search indexes now incorporate a text sensitive search for inclusion and exclusion criteria fields in trial registries. This will enable a user to generate more specific trial lists.
MDCPartners attended the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting 2011
David Cocker attended the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting 2011 which was held in Chicago between June 3rd and 7th. This culminated in the release of ta-Scan V.3.4 which also includes an expanded oncology indication within the platform.
Click here for more information on ASCO.
ta-Scan complements version 3.3 release with user side ListBuilder wizard
You can create custom lists in multiple indications and layer people and organisations connected to evidence of clinical research. The ListBuilder wizard has been specifically designed for user ease. A step-by-step wizard format takes you to individual preset queries which allows fast access to ta-Scan data. With this release is also an updated treatment of the Excel spreadsheet download format. For more information view the PDF data sheet.
ta-Scan version 3.3 released
MDCPartners’ ta-Scan v3.3 was released on the 19th February. This latest release addresses many client requests. A revolutionary advance is our new ListBuilder wizard. This feature adds powerful reporting utilities to your desktop. Custom generate precise data based on your criteria. A new look xls-download complements the ListBuilder module. Besides reporting, v3.3 now offers PubLink. This searching tool exploits PubMed in a semantically linked index. Just enter a keyword in PubLink, and see the ta-Scan links to individuals, drugs or organizations.
What’s new in ta-Scan v3.3?
- Re-sculpted start page
- Extended help resources
- PubLink
- ListBuilder v.1
- Bookmark sharepoint
- Worldwide cluster data
Recent News
- Posted on April 3rd, 2012David Cocker’s Presentation at the 10th Annual SFE & Commercial Excellence Europe 2012
- Posted on February 23rd, 2012David Cocker to present at SFE Europe, March 2012
- Posted on December 1st, 2011Press Release - ta-Scan version 3.5 released
- Posted on October 14th, 2011Conclusions of DIA Clinical Forum and Presentation Download
- Posted on August 31st, 2011ta-Scan News Brief