Cerner finds a treasure in data mining - Boston Business Journal:

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The North Kansas City-based health care information technologyu company, known mostly for the health-recordc software sold to hospitalsand clinics, is leveraginvg the billions of anonymous patienr records it has at its disposal as marketable informationb to pharmaceutical companies and researchers. Cerner said the data operation is a big reasomn revenue for its LifeSciences Group has increasef by roughly 20 percent during each of the past five Mark Hoffman, the company’s life sciencesx solutions vice president, predicteds that annual growth will be greater still in the future. “This is just the beginninyg for us in the life he said. Included in Cerner’s data warehousw are 1.
2 billion lab It also has smaller numbers of medicatiom orders and other The company collects the informationthrough data-sharing agreements with roughly 125 of its softwarwe clients. By some estimates, it can take as long as 17 yearswand $1.2 billion to develoo a single drug. Cerner’s data-mininbg capabilities can quicken that process and save moneyy for drug companies by helping the companies establisn a study protocol that maximizes the number of eligiblse candidates fora trial. “We believe that can actually eventuall y reduce the cost of drug Hoffman said. Cerner would not name its pharmaceutical customers.
Pharmaceuticao companies and clinical researchers pay for Cerner data for other saidScott Weir, director of the ’s Officr of Therapeutics Discovery and Development. He said Cerner’ data-mining capability can point scientists to potential new uses forexistingb drugs. For instance, Weir Cerner’s database might suggest that a drug used to treat cardiovasculare disease could be helpfukl in treatingcancer patients. Researchers then coule run a clinical tria l to testthe idea. The data is useful to drug companies for much the same Weir said, including helping them identif y and correct side effects from drugs.
The KU Canceer Center has used Cerner’s data-mining capabilities for several projects. “They uncoved information we wouldnever discover,” Weir said. “It’d invaluable.” He said Cerner stands to benefift financially, as well, from collaborations with researcherss that can lead to intellectual propertyu that produces licensing feesand royalties. Cerner also can work with researchers suchas Dr. Stephen director of the Center for Personalizerd Medicine and Therapeutic Innovationat . Spielberg seeks a $3.9 milliob grant from the for a study of how the centetr can better capture data in pediatrivc cancer studies usingCerner software.