Life Sciences Companies Undergoing Major Technology Shift

CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa., June 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The life sciences industry is undergoing a major IT platform shift that is transforming the way companies manage their businesses – and that shift is accelerating, according to a survey report released by NextDocs today at the Drug Information Association (DIA) 2013 Annual Meeting in Boston.  The report, The State of SharePoint in Life Sciences, is based on in-depth surveys with more than 100 leading life sciences and pharmaceutical companies, conducted with the aim of better understanding their use of technology to manage regulatory compliance. 

"The life sciences industry is experiencing a once-in-a-generation technology platform shift; a shift that is transforming how these companies manage clinical trials, regulatory submissions and manufacturing processes," said Zikria Syed, Chief Operating Officer of NextDocs. 

The report reveals that, over the past few years, life sciences companies have dramatically accelerated their shift away from legacy content management systems – and to Microsoft SharePoint for managing regulated content in validated systems.  Notably, nearly 37 percent of life sciences companies reported scaling back or replacing their legacy systems, such as EMC Documentum.  These companies are shifting towards open-standard platforms; nearly 65 percent say they have already shifted or plan to shift to a Microsoft SharePoint platform. 

The survey also reveals a dramatic expansion in use of Microsoft SharePoint to manage strategic aspects of their business, such as the management of regulated content in validated systems, as is required during clinical trials.  Four out of ten life sciences companies (43 percent) currently rely on Microsoft SharePoint, along with complimentary solutions, for regulated content management, and another 21 percent are actively planning such a transition. 

Companies are using Microsoft SharePoint as a platform, often combined with complimentary solutions, for quality management (e.g., CAPA, deviations and change control) (42 percent); managing clinical trial documents (eTMF) (37 percent); and managing documents for FDA submissions (32 percent).

This acceleration is aided by another technology trend: cloud computing.  Although more than half of life sciences companies, 55 percent, have deployed Microsoft SharePoint on premises, 28 percent have deployed, or are actively planning to deploy, in the Cloud.     

"The evidence is clear.  Life sciences companies are seeking modern technology solutions that provide greater flexibility and capability for their business.  Solutions that can take advantage of our increasingly global, mobile and connected world.  Solutions that can connect health professionals and empower them to increase productivity, save time and money, and improve care," said Andrea McGonigle, Managing Director, Life Sciences, at Microsoft. 

Copies of the report, The State of SharePoint in Life Sciences, are available at the NextDocs booth (#1722) at DIA 2013 and can be downloaded at www.nextdocs.com.

CONTACT: Dan Cahill, 917.617.0106, [email protected]

SOURCE NextDocs