Clinical trials are necessary for moving medicine forward, but finding patients to participate in those trials isn’t always easy.
In fact, healthtech startup Elligo Health Research has found that only three percent of qualified patients are registered for eligible studies, which can spell doom for a hopeful study. But Elligo believes it has a solution.
The company announced on Tuesday that it has raised a $20 million Series C to connect experimenters wit the remaining 97 percent of patients. The round will help Elligo further its mission to improve clinical trial efficiency, said John Potthoff, CEO of Elligo.
“The goal is to drive clinical trial efficiency through innovation,” Potthoff said in a statement. “Our investors’ continued support in our unique Goes Direct approach and novel IntElligo Research Stack clinical technology has allowed us to quickly expand the base of physicians and their patients who otherwise would not participate in clinical trials.”
Founded in 2016, the Austin-based healthtech startup provides a platform that helps doctors find out about trials their patients may be eligible for. To do so, the platform cross-references study criteria with health records. When they find a fit, they coordinate with the physician, providing infrastructure, technology and expertise to conduct the trial on site.
Too often, when we ‘disrupt’ clinical trials, we actually end up disrupting the patient.”
Finally, a study coordinator from Elligo connects with qualified patients and manages the scheduling, paperwork and data collection for the physician.
At all turns, Potthoff said the company aims to serve the patient.
“Patients deserve to have access to clinical trials as a health care option and they are more likely to participate when their trusted, local physician is conducting the trial at their practice,” Potthoff told Built In. “Too often, when we ‘disrupt’ clinical trials, we actually end up disrupting the patient. Being patient-centric also means not burdening the patient with the logistics of a trial.”
The company employs 90 people, and plans to hire 25 to 40 more by the end of 2019. Elligo previously raised $16 million in a Series B round in March 2018.
Piper Jaffray Merchant Banking led the round, with participation from previous investors Hatteras Venture Partners and Noro-Moseley Partners. Tom Schnettler, managing director at Piper Jaffray, also joined Elligo as a new board member as a result of the funding.
