Akaza's OpenClinica open-source software hits 10K

Akaza Research reports that its OpenClinica open-source software has hit the 10,000 individual-member milestone. That's a three-fold increase in two years. Users hail from 70 countries on six continents.

The open-source development model, despite its provision of free software, accessible source code and a highly accessible user community, remains a minority player among electronic data capture and clinical trial management systems--even though system cost ranks at or near the top of purchase influencers among clinical solutions purchasers.

Akaza sells a commercial-grade, fully supported enterprise edition of OpenClinica in addition to the free community edition. They are in use at biopharma and medical device companies, CROs, and academic centers the company says.

Ben Baumann, Akaza co-founder, says in an announcement that the open-source OpenClinica reduces the "rigidity inherent in proprietary EDC offerings" and is more easily customized, adapted and deployed for different types of studies.

Like other open-source proponents, Baumann says that active open-source communities produce higher quality, more stable software systems than their proprietary counterparts. Code transparency and participatory development yield solutions that match user needs. Open source also allows for quickly identification and fixes for software issues.

OpenClinica free community members can access an issue tracker application, email forums, and a case report form library in addition to the trial software, as reported earlier.

- see the announcement