Resources - COTA Healthcare

Clarity in action

We are determined to bring the full power of data to the collective fight against cancer.

Our Approach

Through our research and partnerships, we are helping to shape the real-world evidence industry and advance the field of oncology.

Our collaborations are leading industry to advance the treatment landscape, reimagine the drug development life cycle, and accelerate value-based care models.

Latest Blog Posts

In Move to Power Precision Oncology for Patients, COTA and Genomic Testing Cooperative Form New Data Partnership

The two companies are joining forces to integrate COTA’s deep clinical oncology real-world data with GTC’s comprehensive genomics testing data.

COTA, Inc. Forms Strategic Real-World Data Research Partnership with the Clinical Research Data Sharing Alliance

COTA, Inc. is now a proud member of the Clinical Research Data Sharing Alliance (CRDSA). This cross-industry alliance is dedicated to accelerating the discovery and delivery of life-saving therapies through the use of high-quality clinical trials and real-world data.

What Makes a Fit-for-Purpose Database for Clinical Oncology Research?

A fit-for-purpose database includes key variables, reliable and accurate data, and representative samples that can be used to draw meaningful conclusions. RWD can be highly valuable in supporting clinical oncology research, but choosing the right data is essential. The keys to finding the right fit-for-purpose database include relevance, reliability, integrity, and bias.

Latest Podcasts

Using Fit-for-Purpose Data to Improve Patient Outcomes With Seshamalini Srinivasan, Karla Feghali, Mandy Kelly, Laura Fernandes

In the world of clinical trials, having a well-defined research question is key. And that’s where fit-for-purpose data sets come in. But what are the factors for defining research questions? In this episode of the Real World Talk podcast, we get to hear from Seshamalini Srinivasan, Karla Feghali, Mandy Kelly, and Laura Fernandes. They talk about the criteria for defining research questions, the importance of fit-for-purpose data, and the other factors to consider in real-world data sources.

How to Handle Potential Biases When Dealing With Real-World Data Featuring Laura Fernandes

Real-world data holds great potential for clinical trials, and it can support clinical development and regulatory decision-making. But when working with data, we need to be conscious of potential biases. In this episode of the Real World Talk podcast, our host Christie Zettler welcomes Laura Fernandes, Senior Statistical Director at COTA. They talk about the JSM conference, AML response validation work, and how to account for potential biases when dealing with RWD.

Learning How Combining RCTs and RWD Helps With Patient Outcomes Featuring Seshamalini Srinivasan, Laura Fernandes, and Karla Feghali

Real world data (RWD) is data that’s collected outside of clinical trials, whereas randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are conducted to measure the effectiveness of a specific medication or treatment. But how can these two work together to improve patient outcomes? In this episode of the Real World Talk podcast, our host Mandy Kelly welcomes Seshamalini Srinivasan, Laura Fernandes, and Karla Feghali to talk about the importance of combining RWD and RCTs to bring life-saving treatments to patients faster.

Our Research and Publications

Discover more about how our work with the FDA, industry and academia helps to ensure that everyone touched by cancer is given a clear path to the right care.

ASH 2020: Real-World Treatment Patterns and Outcomes of Patients with Functional High-Risk (Early Relapse) Multiple Myeloma

In collaboration with researchers from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, this retrospective study uses RWD to explore treatment patterns and outcomes of functional high-risk multiple myeloma patients who relapse within 18 months of initial diagnosis.

Tocilizumab among patients with COVID-19 in the intensive care unit: a multicentre observational study

In this retrospective observational cohort study involving 13 hospitals within the Hackensack Meridian Health network (NJ, USA), patients with COVID-19 requiring ICU support who received tocilizumab had reduced mortality. Results of ongoing randomized controlled trials are awaited.

ESMO IO 2019: Cost of Adverse Events (AEs) With Second-line (2L) Immuno-Oncology Agents (IO) and Chemotherapy (CHEMO) in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (aNSCLC) in the Real World

In collaboration with Bristol-Myers Squibb, COTA investigated the incidence and cost of adverse events among aNSCLC patients treated with 2L immuno-oncology agents as compared to 2L chemotherapy, finding lower cost among patients treated with IO.

An Exploratory Analysis of Real-World End Points for Assessing Outcomes Among Immunotherapy-Treated Patients With Advanced Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer

COTA was one of six organizations to participate in a collaboration to explore the consistency of real-world endpoints across diverse datasets and the potential validity of RWD to support regulatory and payer decision making.

ASCO 2019: Rates of Genotyping for KRAS, NRAS, BRAF, Microsatellite Instability, and Mismatch Repair in Metastatic Colon Cancer Patients: Gaps and Implications.

In collaboration with Guardant Health, COTA investigated the molecular testing rates of patients with metastatic colon cancer and found that <25% of our cohort received guideline recommended genotyping.

ASCO 2019: Real-World Characterization of Advanced/Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients with Rapid Disease Progression

In collaboration with Eli Lilly, COTA characterized patients with non-small cell lung cancer whose disease progresses within <12 weeks of diagnosis, a notable poor prognosis cohort.

Latest Media Coverage

Paying participants isn’t the way to improve clinical trial recruitment

It’s notoriously difficult to recruit people to participate in clinical trials. It’s even harder to ensure that trials are ethnically, racially, and socioeconomically diverse. The idea of paying people to participate has been floated as an option to improve recruitment, but I believe fundamental problems in the clinical trial mechanism need to be addressed before moving in that direction.

The Pace Of Covid-19 Vaccine Development Makes Cancer Research Seem Too Slow, New Study Shows

The speed of Covid-19 vaccine development hasn’t just made some Americans nervous about getting vaccinated. It’s also helped raise consumer expectations about how quickly scientific progress can happen, particularly in cancer care.

COTA’s Miruna Sasu: I left pharma to “turn the spigot on” in the real-world data industry

Miruna Sasu discusses with The Cancer Letter how she plans to leverage the insights learned working in pharma to drive adoption of real-world data and improve care for cancer patients.

Interested in learning more about how we can transform cancer care together?