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

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The North Kansas City-based health care information technology company, known mostly for the health-record software sold to hospitalx and clinics, is leveraging the billions of anonymous patient records it has at its disposal as marketable information to pharmaceutical companies and Cerner said the data operatiobn is a big reason revenue for its LifeSciences Group has increased by roughly 20 percenft during each of the past five years. Mark Hoffman, the company’s life sciences solutions vice president, predicted that annual growth will be greater still inthe “This is just the beginning for us in the life he said. Included in Cerner’s data warehousee are 1.
2 billion lab results. It also has smallerf numbers of medication orders andotherd data. The company collectxs the informationthrough data-sharing agreements with roughlt 125 of its software clients. By some estimates, it can take as long as 17 yearwand $1.2 billion to develop a singles drug. Cerner’s data-mining capabilities can quicken that process and save moneyy for drug companies by helping the companies establisn a study protocol that maximizexs the number of eligible candidatesz fora trial. “We believe that can actuallty eventually reduce the cost of drug Hoffman said.
Cerner would not name its pharmaceutical Pharmaceutical companies and clinical researcherw pay for Cerner data for other saidScott Weir, director of the ’sx Office of Therapeutics Discovery and Development. He said Cerner’s data-miningv capability can point scientists to potential new uses forexisting drugs. For Weir said, Cerner’s database might suggest that a drug used to treag cardiovascular disease could be helpful in treatingcancetr patients. Researchers then could run a clinicak trial to testthe idea.
The data is usefu l to drug companies for much thesame reason, Weir including helping them identift and correct side effects from The KU Cancer Center has used Cerner’s data-miningy capabilities for several projects. “They uncover information we wouldxnever discover,” Weir said. “It’s invaluable.” He said Cerner standsa to benefit financially, as well, from collaborations with researchers that can lead to intellectuao property that produces licensing feesand royalties. Cerner also can work with researcherss suchas Dr. Stephen Spielberg, director of the Centerd for Personalized Medicine and Therapeutic Innovatio nat . Spielberg seeks a $3.
9 millioj grant from the for a studyg of how the centerf can better capture data in pediatric cancer studiee usingCerner software.