Science 37 is an American clinical research company that specializes in decentralized clinical trials. In March 2024, the company was acquired by eMed, LLC.[1][2]
Company type | Private |
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Nasdaq: SNCE | |
Industry | Clinical research |
Founded | 2014 |
Founders |
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Owner |
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Website | www |
Science 37 was founded in 2014[3] by Noah Craft and Belinda Tan, working out of LA BioMed at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.[4]
Their team developed the Network Oriented Research Assistant platform, also known as the NORA platform, which includes video chat, digital self-photography, data collection, and electronic consent. Together, these features were used to conduct “site-less” trials.[5]
The platform also aided researchers in finding and contacting potential participants, and scheduling trial participants for in-home activities like questionnaires, mobile nurse visits,[6] and door-step study medicine delivery.[7]
Science 37 received its initial round of funding in 2015, with a $6.5 million investment, co-led by Lux Capital and dRx Capital.[8] In 2016 the company's second round of financing resulted in $31 million in funding, and a 2017 round of financing resulted in $29 million.[9][10] In March 2019, Science 37 secured $35 million in Series D funding; and announced a leadership transition with David Coman coming in as CEO in November 2019.
In August 2020 Science 37 closed an oversubscribed Series D $40 million funding round led by Lux Capital, Redmile Group and PPD, Inc. (other investors: Novartis, Amgen, Sanofi Ventures, GV, Glynn Capital, LifeSci Ventures and Mubadala Ventures). In May 2021, Science 37 announced that they are to become publicly listed via merger with LifeSci Acquisition II Corp.[citation needed]
In 2015 Science 37 began working with Genentech in the recruitment of trial participants.[11] In 2017 Science 37 then completed a site-less trial for AOBiome Therapeutics. This was the first “interventional, randomized, placebo-controlled trial” to be completed virtually.[5] That year Science 37 also began planning site-less trials for Sanofi[12] and Otsuka Pharmaceutical.[13]
In 2018 the company partnered with Novartis to plan several site-less clinical trials. Novartis also owns 10% of Science 37 from an early-stage investment in the company.[14] Science 37 was already in the process of conducting trials with Novartis in acne, cluster headaches, and fatty liver disease.[4]