Walgreens and Boehringer Ingelheim have announced a strategic partnership aimed at optimizing clinical trial recruitment and making trials more accessible, inclusive, and equitable. This collaboration will provide individuals the opportunity to learn about and potentially participate in a significant Phase III clinical trial within the familiar setting of Walgreens pharmacies, reflecting a shared commitment to expanding access to healthcare and research.
Boehringer Ingelheim will utilize select Walgreens community pharmacies as clinical trial sites for people with obesity, overweight, and type 2 diabetes. This initiative aims to break down barriers, improve access, and ensure equitable health representation in clinical trials, particularly among Black and Hispanic adults who are more likely to experience obesity and have historically been underrepresented in clinical research.
“Embracing our pharmacy clinical trial centers in this study underscores our joint commitment to community health and innovation,” said Ramita Tandon, Chief Clinical Trials Officer at Walgreens. “This model not only provides foundational education on clinical research for patients but also empowers individuals, offering them a new pathway to engage in their healthcare through clinical trial participation. It’s a step forward in transforming the landscape of clinical research, helping to make clinical trials more inclusive and accessible.”
Boehringer Ingelheim is also collaborating with EmVenio Research to complement this initiative by introducing mobile research units, thereby extending reach and providing additional participation options.
“Boehringer Ingelheim is proud to embrace this community-centric approach to clinical research with Walgreens and EmVenio,” said Lennart Jungersten, Senior Vice President, Medicine & Regulatory Affairs at Boehringer Ingelheim U.S. “By bringing clinical trials into the heart of local communities, we’re making them more accessible and helping to provide access to diverse populations with pressing health needs. Boehringer Ingelheim is committed to transforming lives for generations to come for those living with overweight and obesity.”
It is estimated that over 1 billion people worldwide live with obesity, with the number expected to rise to 24% of the global population by 2035. Obesity, classified among cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic (C-R-M) diseases, is a leading cause of death globally.
“At EmVenio, we believe that innovation is meaningful and access to clinical trial research should be universal. Our partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim exemplifies our commitment to breaking down barriers and expanding access to transformative healthcare solutions,” said Thad Wolfram, President of EmVenio Research. “By bringing clinical trials directly to local communities, we’re not just conducting research, we’re fostering inclusivity and diversity in clinical trials.”
This innovative approach of leveraging pharmacies and mobile research units for clinical trial research is poised to enhance patient outcomes and set a new standard for inclusivity. Walgreens will also use advanced, real-world insights to identify and engage potential study participants as part of the collaboration.
