Samsung partners Alcedis to turn wearable data into clinical trial evidence

The collaboration aims to enhance the efficiency of clinical trials by reducing both time and cost, while improving the quality and usability of real-world health data generated through wearable technology.

Wearable devices have increasingly become a cost-effective and scalable method for collecting continuous, real-world health data, making them highly valuable for clinical research. However, a key challenge for the industry has been translating raw wearable-generated signals into validated clinical insights.

Samsung said it is addressing this gap through an integrated research approach that combines its advanced wearable technologies with clinically validated measurements such as bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and electrodermal activity (EDA). The initiative also incorporates Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) capabilities, including features for detecting obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and atrial fibrillation (AFib), along with biomarker development expertise and dedicated research infrastructure.

“The future of clinical research is increasingly collaborative and brings together technology, scientific expertise and research partners to generate a deeper understanding of human health,” said Jongmin Choi, Head of Health R&D Group, Mobile eXperience (MX) Business at Samsung Electronics. “Through our collaboration with Alcedis, Samsung is unlocking new opportunities for biomarker development, digital endpoint innovation and evidence generation throughout the research lifecycle.”

Samsung’s research platform is built on its Galaxy Watch ecosystem, enabling continuous collection of physiological data in real-world environments from users who have provided consent. The platform is designed to support faster clinical study setup, with granular control over biosensors and access to participant- and device-level data in line with established research protocols.

The company said its wearable ecosystem and collaborative measurement methodologies are helping establish scientifically meaningful digital biomarkers and endpoints, enabling more efficient evidence generation across the healthcare research lifecycle.

As healthcare continues to shift toward data-driven and connected care models, Samsung said it aims to bridge the gap between everyday health monitoring and scientific discovery, supporting faster innovation across the global healthcare ecosystem.

“The future of clinical research depends on our ability to capture meaningful health data beyond traditional clinical settings,” said Hanno Härtlein, CEO of Alcedis. “Our collaboration with Samsung brings together complementary strengths and scalable infrastructure to advance endpoints and biomarker development, accelerate evidence generation, and support more patient-centric healthcare innovation. Under this partnership, Alcedis will lead study execution and participant engagement, while Samsung will provide its wearable technology and research infrastructure.”