Younger Patients and Patients Treated at Community Cancer Centers without Access to Large Research Hospitals Benefit Most

Washington, D.C. (September 14, 2020) – The Colorectal Cancer Alliance (the “Alliance”), a national nonprofit committed to ending colorectal cancer, and TrialJectory, an AI-powered technology platform that empowers cancer patients to find advanced new treatment options that fit their precise profile, today announced preliminary data resulting from their recent collaboration to democratize access to advanced cancer treatments and critical research. This collaboration combines the Alliance’s expertise in advocacy and education with TrialJectory’s harnessing of artificial intelligence. 

In October 2019, the Alliance launched its web-based Clinical Trial Finder, powered by TrialJectory’s AI-based advanced treatment matching solution. Since then, more than 550 colorectal cancer patients have discovered clinical trials that fit their individual situations. The Trial Finder has also been successful in increasing the accessibility of trials for patient populations who usually are not presented with these treatment options: 70 percent of these patients are treated in community cancer centers where less than 10 percent typically offer clinical trials as an option to patients. In addition, as colorectal cancer is growing among the younger population, 35 percent of those who used the Trial Finder are under 50, giving access to advanced treatment and better care to this specific population.  

“Our Clinical Trial Finder has been a powerful resource for the colorectal cancer patient community. Younger patients are experiencing symptoms and being diagnosed earlier in life, and this tool leads to greater empowerment in their cancer journey,” said Michael Sapienza, CEO of the Alliance. “Having the trial finder right at their fingertips has transformed their treatment journeys, as it removes barriers to accessing advanced new treatment options that are available today. Combining the Alliance’s efforts to educate the community with TrialJectory’s technology is something that cancer patients in every part of the country are demanding. Especially in the new world of COVID-19, it’s critical that we meet that demand for our community.”

The clinical trial finder uses a tailored series of questions to customize a user-friendly list of relevant trials for patients at all stages of the disease. TrialJectory uses AI to curate, structure and personalize massive quantities of data that’s produced by cancer research every day and makes the experience of being matched to the right trial fast and patient-friendly. Once the patient has been matched to the right advanced treatment, the platform not only presents the information in an easily digestible way, but it also connects patients with trial specialists who support the patients’ needs as they apply, enroll, and participate in the trial.

“There are multiple outcomes from a patient-centered platform like this one, enabling us to meet people where they are with life-saving opportunities that are clear and actionable, changing the landscape of treatment as well as research participation to reduce challenges in trial accrual and retention,” said Andrea Goodman, Vice President of Patient and Family Support at the Alliance.

“The simple fact is that cancer patients who are treated at the major research hospitals are receiving the best treatment because of their access to clinical trials. People who don’t participate in trials due to their location are missing out on the best chance of survival. This lack of equality in care ultimately leads to the underrepresentation of minorities,” added Tzvia Bader, Co-Founder and CEO of TrialJectory. “We need to harness the power of technology, combined with the extensive community work of the Alliance, to achieve true democratization of treatment for all cancer patients everywhere. We are very encouraged by the initial impact of our partnership and will continue to work with the Alliance to ensure that more and more patients can access advanced cancer treatment.”

The Alliance's Clinical Trial Finder & Education Program is made possible with support from Merck, Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Oncology, Taiho Oncology, and Genentech, a member of the Roche Group.

About TrialJectory
TrialJectory is a patient-first digital health company with a mission to democratize access to advanced cancer treatment. TrialJectory uses artificial intelligence (AI) to empower patients to own their cancer journey, and analyzes its global patient community’s real-world data to empower cancer patients to make the most informed decisions about their care.
For more information, please visit www.trialjectory.com.

About the Colorectal Cancer Alliance
The Colorectal Cancer Alliance is a national nonprofit committed to ending colorectal cancer. Working with our nation of passionate allies, we diligently support the needs of patients and families, caregivers, and survivors; eagerly raise awareness of preventative screening; and continually strive to fund critical research. As allies in the struggle, we are fiercely determined to end colorectal cancer within our lifetime. For more information, please visit colorectalcancer.org.