Pfizer commences first ever ‘virtual’ clinical trial

Pfizer has announced the commencement of a new clinical trial that will allow patients to participate entirely using mobile phone and web-based technology.

The US-based study, which is for an overactive bladder treatment called Detrol LA, has been described as the first ever "virtual" trial, letting patients take part without ever needing to visit a clinical site.

Pfizer is hoping to validate this new style of research by replicating the results of a previous traditional phase IV trial, as it believes this new organisational model could be faster and offer a higher quality of data.

Moreover, it would allow a wider selection of patients to take part in studies, regardless of their geographic location.

Dr Briggs Morrison, Pfizer's senior vice-president of worldwide medical excellence, said: "This programme and similar programmes that may follow could lead to an entirely new way for patients to participate in trials and contribute to biomedical research."

Last month, the company published positive data from a clinical trial of its inflammatory disease treatment Enbrel, which is being developed in partnership with Amgen.