Kroger Health launches network of clinical trial centers

Kroger Health, the healthcare arm of a major grocery chain, announced on Tuesday that it has launched a network of clinical trial centers.

The company said it will work with trial sponsors, contract research organizations and healthcare systems to conduct clinical trials at selected Kroger pharmacies and clinics. It will also use virtual care and digital health tools to ensure patient participation in clinical trials.

Along with the announcement, Kroger revealed that its first clinical trial is currently recruiting patients. The company is working with Persephone Biosciences on a study that aims to find microbiome-based biomarkers that may indicate colorectal cancer. Kroger said it will draw on an initial group of 55 but plans to expand to new locations with more members over the next year.

“With our team of more than 24,000 healthcare professionals under the umbrella of the American Grocer, we are at the intersection of food and healthcare, which gives us a unique opportunity to expand access to clinical trial opportunities,” Colleen Lindholtz, Kroger Health. president,” the statement said. “As a trusted public health center, we envision a future in which our work will change the landscape of clinical trials and provide increased access to trials for the people we serve.”

BIG TREND

Other retailers have launched their own clinical trial offerings, arguing that they can improve access to and diversity in clinical trials.

In 2021 CVS Health announced its Clinical Trial Services business, which will handle patient recruitment, research and real-life evidence. Early last year, CVS announced a partnership with decentralized clinical trials company Medable to provide its services.

Walgreens also entered the clinical trial space by announcing its business over the summer. The company said it will use both in-person and virtual care, as well as technology resources, to conduct research.

Retail players such as Walgreens, CVS, Walmart and Amazon are increasingly encouraging them to help. Kroger’s Lindholz said pharmacists at Healthcare IT News can play a larger role in patient care, including through chronic disease education, smoking cessation or dietary education, and discussion of disease prevention strategies.

“Despite the fact that the average American lives within five miles of a pharmacy, pharmacists remain one of the most underused healthcare resources in their communities. The good news is that we are seeing a shift in the perception of pharmacists that goes beyond drug dispensing,” she said. “Using their exceptional training and education, pharmacists are poised to become the backbone of public health.”

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texasstandard.news contributed to this report.

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