Samsung Electronics to use Galaxy Watch health data in drug development clinical trials

Samsung Electronics partners with digital clinical trial firm Alcedis; companies to jointly develop technology converting biometric data from Galaxy Watch into clinical indicators

Samsung Electronics' Galaxy Watch 8 Classic. [Kwon Je-in]

Samsung Electronics will begin using biometric data collected through Galaxy Watch devices in clinical trials for drug development.

The company announced Wednesday that it has partnered with Alcedis, a German firm specializing in data-driven digital clinical trials, to advance the effort.

Founded in 1992, Alcedis is a subsidiary of Huma, a global healthcare AI company, and leads the digital transformation of clinical research.

The digitization of clinical research has emerged as a central issue in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries.

Wearable technology such as Galaxy Watch can collect real-time biometric data from daily life and maximize data reliability, Samsung Electronics said. The company added that reducing the burden of hospital visits on patients is expected to boost clinical trial participation rates.

Samsung Electronics' Galaxy Watch 8. [Provided by Samsung Electronics]

Through the partnership, the two companies aim to expand the application of wearable technology from everyday health management into the realm of medical research.

They will jointly develop methods to convert biometric data collected through Galaxy Watch sensors into clinical indicators capable of evaluating the efficacy and safety of new drugs.

The collaboration will also cover the full clinical research process — from data collection and participant monitoring to trial operations and regulatory compliance.

Choi Jong-min, senior managing director of Samsung Electronics' MX Business Division Health Development Group, said the company has long supported researchers through tools such as the Samsung Health SDK. He added that the partnership would help turn everyday data into innovations in drug development research and patient care.

Hanno Härtlein, chief executive of Alcedis, said the future of clinical research depends on securing meaningful health data from daily life, beyond traditional clinical settings. "Our collaboration with Samsung Electronics combines the strengths and scalable infrastructure of both companies to accelerate research and drive patient-centered healthcare innovation," he said.

Meanwhile, Samsung Electronics has been building a "Connected Care" ecosystem that links wearable device health data to actual medical services. As a core part of that strategy, the company acquired Xealth, a platform connecting digital healthcare solutions to more than 500 major hospitals across the United States.

Galaxy Watch already offers healthcare features including blood pressure monitoring, electrocardiogram readings and sleep tracking. New models set to launch in the second half of this year are expected to add enhanced health management functions such as vital sign tracking, a heart health score, daily cardio load, a physical fitness index and hearing health monitoring.

sjpark@heraldcorp.com