As the biopharma sector looks to modernize clinical trials, some industry experts are calling for those efforts to extend beyond new AI-enabled software and technologies by including more diverse participants.

Del Smith, co-founder and CEO of health diversity tech company Acclinate, told attendees at a November biopharma conference in Boston that health equity should be at the center of any clinical trial. But, he stressed, companies can’t just tout health equity; they must actually take steps to achieve it.

That means including patients from minority groups, LGBTQ+ populations, and those with obesity, he said. Researchers must also take the time to learn about their participants and make inroads to those communities.

Keep reading here.—SY

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Seeing a doula—a nonclinically trained professional who provides labor guidance and support—even virtually can improve birth outcomes and reduce a person’s likelihood of requiring a cesarean section (C-section), according to new research from digital family health platform Maven Clinic.

The study, published in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology on December 6, examined birthing data from nearly 9,000 Maven members. Researchers found similar rates of C-sections between individuals who saw doulas in person or online, suggesting that virtual visits can also affect birth outcomes and experiences.

Kate Ryder, founder and CEO of Maven, which uses doulas in its care model, said the findings reaffirm “that virtual doulas have a critical role to play in driving better maternal health outcomes.”

Keep reading here.—SY

Rhysida, the ransomware gang that has claimed responsibility for a recent cyberattack on the British Library, now claims to have hit a private hospital and stolen data, including health records for the royal family.

Computer Weekly reported that last week, the group posted to its site on the dark web bragging of an attack on London’s King Edward VII Hospital, providing evidence such as images depicting “copies of X-rays, medical reports, prescriptions, and registration forms.” Rhysida also allegedly said it would sell the data at auction at a starting price of 10 bitcoin (roughly $435,000), threatening that in the absence of a buyer it would release the stolen information on December 5.

Rhysida’s threats explicitly mention “data from the royal family,” according to Protocol.

Keep reading at IT Brew.—TM

Today’s top healthcare reads.

Stat: Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso gave his entire capital funding allocation ($45 million) to three local hospitals in an effort to address poor maternal health outcomes for Black patients. (New York magazine)

Quote: “There is massive unmet need, and the whole ecosystem just isn’t coming together.”—John Crowley, executive chair of biotech firm Amicus Therapeutics and the father of two kids with rare diseases, on his efforts to navigate regulatory challenges and make way for medical advancements in the space (the Wall Street Journal)

Read: CVS is slated to overhaul its drug pricing. (the Wall Street Journal)

The more you know: Patient data can be a provider’s superpower. Just look at Modern Health—they use feedback from Typeform to support their customers, all while staying HIPAA compliant. Get the deets.*

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