NTT Precision Medicine and DCT Japan Announce Collaboration to Revolutionize Clinical Trial Participant Recruitment

2025/08/08
プレスリリース
2025.08.08
NTT Precision Medicine Co., Ltd.
DCT Japan Co., Ltd.

NTT Precision Medicine, Inc. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Koji Korekawa; "NTT Precision Medicine") and DCT Japan, Inc. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Shinsuke Muto; "DCT Japan") will begin a collaboration aimed at improving the efficiency and accuracy of participant recruitment in clinical trials.
 
In recent years, "drug lag" and "drug loss" have become significant challenges in Japan. One of the contributing factors is the low participation rate of Japanese sites in international joint clinical trials, often due to "slow enrollment of Japanese patients."
 
As Japan's first company specializing in Decentralized Clinical Trials (DCT), DCT Japan provides comprehensive DCT solutions, including a nationwide network of visiting nurses capable of conducting in-home clinical trials, as well as a network of satellite sites—comprising disease-specific, region-specific, and large hospital groups—to support participant recruitment.
 
NTT Precision Medicine operates the "Japan Precision Medicine Platform (JPP) ※1," which enables pharmaceutical companies and researchers to securely access and statistically analyze clinical and genetic data held by medical institutions and biobanks. The company offers a full range of services, from research planning and protocol design to ethics review support and data analysis. In addition, the NTT Group provides comprehensive clinical trial services that leverage advanced ICT technologies, offering end-to-end support from patient recruitment to data integration and management, online medical consultation support, and assistance for medical institutions.※2
 
Through this collaboration, DCT Japan and NTT Precision Medicine will integrate their respective site networks and healthcare databases to dramatically improve the efficiency and precision of participant recruitment.
 
Specifically, DCT Japan will leverage its networks that support participant recruitment by disease and region, including those announced in collaborations with the Fujinokuni Medical Town Promotion Agency ※3 and the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology ※4. NTT Precision Medicine will utilize its unique cancer disease database (approximately 50,000 patients) based on electronic health records and the NTT Cohort Database ※5 (approximately 90,000 individuals), which contains longitudinal health check-up data and genomic data. This will enable the identification of eligible trial patients at each facility, realizing efficient site start-up and shorter trial durations for pharmaceutical companies, while creating clinical trial opportunities for patients.
NTT Precision Medicine and DCT Japan will continue to promote DCT through their close partnership and contribute to the advancement of healthcare in Japan.

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About NTT Precision Medicine, Inc.
Established in July 2024 as the medical and healthcare arm of the NTT Group to realize "precision medicine *6"—the delivery of optimal, personalized prevention and healthcare. The company provides support for the realization of personalized prevention and care based on patient-centric information, digital transformation (DX) of medical institution operations, and clinical research and R&D utilizing real-world data (*6) from individuals and medical institutions.
https://www.ntt-precisionmedicine.co.jp/
 
About DCT Japan, Inc.
As part of the Integrity Healthcare Group, DCT Japan was established in February 2022 as Japan's first company specializing in Decentralized Clinical Trials. It provides a comprehensive range of DCT-related solutions, centered on visiting nursing services, IT solutions such as online consultation systems, and participant recruitment through the establishment of satellite site networks.
https://dctj.co.jp/en/
 
 
*1: A next-generation medical research system that enables the secure distribution and utilization of medical data. Japan Precision Medicine Platform (JPP) | NTT Precision Medicine, Inc.
*3:  Press Release: "DCT Japan Forms Business Alliance with Fujinokuni Medical Town Promotion Agency (Pharma Valley Center) for Satellite Medical Institution Business in Decentralized Clinical Trials (DCT)."
*4: Press Release: "DCT Japan Starts Collaboration with Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology for Decentralized Clinical Trials (DCT) - Contributing to Expanded Patient Access and Increased Efficiency in Clinical Trials." | Integrity Healthcare
*5: R&D Support Service Utilizing the NTT Cohort (Working Age Cohort) | NTT Precision Medicine, Inc.
*6: A medical concept focused on providing optimal prevention and care personalized for each individual.
*7: Real World Data: Information obtained in routine clinical practice, such as from electronic health records.
 
Inquiries regarding this announcement
NTT Precision Medicine Co., Ltd.
Business Promotion Department representatives:
Motoyama, Shintaku, Komagawa
 
DCT Japan Inc.
Public Relations
E-mail：pr＠dctj.co.jp

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