Samsung Electronics is teaming up with Alcedis, a digital-first clinical research organization (CRO) specializing in data-driven clinical trials, to translate biometrics collected by wearable devices into meaningful evidence for clinical trials in pharmaceutical and other research organizations.

The goal is to maximize efficiency in terms of both cost and time, Samsung said.

The impetus is the fact that wearable technologies—which are now widely available and cost-effective—can capture continuous, real-world health data, making them very appealing for clinical research. However, many research programs struggle to translate wearable-generated signals into clinically useful evidence.

Samsung is looking to address this challenge through an integrated approach that combines its latest advancements in wearable technology with clinically validated measurements. These include: bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and electrodermal activity (EDA), as well as software as a medical device (SaMD) features such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and atrial fibrillation (AFib) detection, biomarker development expertise and research-related technical infrastructure designed to support evidence generation across the research lifecycle.

“The future of clinical research is increasingly collaborative and brings together technology, scientific expertise and research partners to generate a deeper understanding of human health,” said Jongmin Choi, head of health R&D group, mobile eXperience (MX) nusiness, at Samsung Electronics. “Through our collaboration with Alcedis, Samsung is unlocking new opportunities for biomarker development, digital endpoint innovation and evidence generation throughout the research lifecycle.”

Samsung’s research platform incorporates devices and biosensors featured on its Galaxy Watch that are designed to enable continuous collection of physiological data in real-world environments for users who have consented. Wearable technology and a collaborative approach to developing measurement methodologies provides a foundation for scientifically meaningful digital biomarkers and endpoints, the company said.

This enables Samsung’s research platform to set up study faster with enhanced control of biosensors and access to participant- and device-level insights and biosensor data with respect to the study and established protocols, the company said.

As healthcare shifts toward more connected, data-driven models of care and research, Samsung said it wants to bridge the gap between everyday health monitoring and scientific discovery. The goal is to enable a new era of evidence generation that brings researchers closer to real-world insights and helps accelerate innovation across the healthcare ecosystem.

“The future of clinical research depends on our ability to capture meaningful health data beyond traditional clinical settings,” said Hanno Härtlein, CEO of Alcedis. “Our collaboration with Samsung brings together complementary strengths and scalable infrastructure to help advance endpoints and biomarker development, to accelerate evidence generation and support the development of more patient-centric healthcare innovations.”

Under the collaboration, Härtlein added, Alcedis will lead study execution and participant engagement, and Samsung will provide its wearable technology and research infrastructure to support evidence generation.