News

December 8, 2016

Leading Clinical Trial Technology Innovator DrugDev Achieves EU-U.S. Privacy Shield Certification

Host of CTMS and investigator data for over a dozen pharma companies is among first to achieve certification to ensure security, data privacy and regulatory compliance for sponsors, CROs and sites

DrugDev again demonstrated its dedication to reducing the administrative burden of clinical trials with the announcement that it is one of the early adopters completing EU-U.S. Privacy Shield Certification from the U.S. Department of Commerce.

The EU-U.S. Privacy Shield Framework is designed to provide companies on both sides of the Atlantic with a mechanism to comply with EU data protection requirements when transferring personal data from the EU to the U.S. while also facilitating transatlantic commerce. It replaces the U.S.-EU Safe Harbor Framework to which DrugDev had certified previously.  DrugDev, which is among the first 500 businesses to pass the scrutiny process and gain certification, has the largest network of active investigators in the pharma industry, and is vigilant about maintaining their privacy.

DrugDev Chief Legal Officer Steve Marsden explained, “Our customers trust DrugDev to be vigilant in protecting their data, and the data of individuals who participate in clinical trials, so we took action to achieve EU-U.S. Privacy Shield Certification soon after introduction. It tells our customers they can continue to rely on DrugDev to help them safeguard privacy and security and achieve regulatory compliance whether they’re leveraging our site activation, data solutions, trial optimization or payments technology.”   

The public declaration at the heart of the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield is considered more business-friendly than the default requirement for protection through extra contracts, while taking a robust stance on privacy. The new mechanism in particular adds to the approach taken by Safe Harbor with increased rights for the individuals concerned and more protections for onward transfers of data. DrugDev customers will see a particular benefit given they commonly have a substantial presence in Europe.

“Data protection is a huge part of what DrugDev does, and the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield Framework is a key mechanism to secure the relationship between DrugDev and our customers and to reduce the administrative burden of clinical trials,” Steve Marsden continued. “Where we used Safe Harbor in the past, the Privacy Shield elevates the process while still removing the need for additional contracts. It’s another example of how DrugDev helps our customers significantly improve the administration of clinical trials from contracting to close-out while giving proper regard to data protection.”

 About DrugDev

DrugDev’s unified clinical suite enables sponsors, CROs and sites to do more trials through industry-wide collaboration, standardization and a beautiful technology experience. Featuring solutions for global site payments, site identification and activation, workflow optimization, learning management, and site and patient engagement, DrugDev helps companies transform the quality and efficiency of clinical trials from startup through closeout. DrugDev maintains a global network of 80,000+ active investigators and also powers the revolutionary TransCelerate Investigator Registry and Investigator Databank collaborations with the universal identifier known as the DrugDev Golden Number.  Learn more at drugdev.com