HiRO and Differentia Biotech Forge Strategic Alliance to Redefine Clinical Trial Design Through AI-Powered Simulation
- Memorandum of Understanding establishes a framework for joint development of clinical trial simulation capabilities
- The partnership unites global clinical operations excellence with advanced digital twin technology, delivering simulation-first drug development to biotech sponsors navigating an era of compressed timelines and escalating trial costs.
SOMERSET, N.J., Aug. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- At a time when biopharma R&D productivity is declining and the cost of bringing a single drug to market exceeds $2.6 billion, two companies are converging capabilities to change how clinical trials are designed, sized, and executed.
Harvest Integrated Research Organization (HiRO), a full-service global clinical research organization (CRO), and Differentia Biotech Ltd. ("Differentia"), a pioneer in knowledge-empowered modeling and simulation for drug development, today announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishing a strategic collaboration between the two companies. The agreement was formalized at HiRO's office, marking a new step in both organizations' efforts to bring more integrated, data-driven solutions to biopharmaceutical sponsors worldwide.
Under the MOU, HiRO and Differentia will pursue collaboration across two major areas, which address the pain points of biotech companies: joint exploration and development of clinical trial simulation models that combine HiRO's global clinical operations, data science, and real-world data expertise with Differentia's AI-powered digital twin and modeling and simulation platforms; and the development of new product offerings and commercial solutions built on those combined simulation capabilities.
The clinical trial simulation collaboration sits at the center of the partnership. By pairing HiRO's operational experience running trials across oncology, rare disease, cell and gene therapy, radiopharmaceuticals, and other complex indications with Differentia's modeling and simulation platforms, the collaboration leverages simulation-informed approaches to support smarter trial design, more efficient patient selection, potential reduction in the number of subjects needed, and better-informed sponsor decision-making earlier in development.
The collaboration reflects a shared view that sponsors increasingly benefit from pairing disciplined clinical trial execution with advanced modeling and simulation, helping to inform smarter trial design, manage risk, and support timelines across complex therapeutic areas.
Chief Executive Officer and Founder of HiRO, Karen Chu said, "Drug developers don't just need faster trials, they need smarter ones. Differentia's modeling and simulation expertise complements the operational discipline HiRO brings to every study, and this collaboration lets us explore how those strengths work together for the clients we both serve. We are aiming to support our biotech clients in better decision-making."
Founder of Differentia, Shirley Wen said, "As biopharma R&D productivity continues to decline, clinical development has become an increasingly significant source of cost, time, and risk. As FDA and global regulators increasingly embrace model-informed drug development, the industry must move from 'test in humans first' toward 'simulate first, then test in humans.' Together with HiRO's clinical development expertise, we aim to improve clinical success, reduce trial size, and accelerate time to market—ultimately creating greater value and ROI for every asset."
Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Differentia, Kas Subramanian said, "By fusing advanced AI and biosimulations with HiRO's industry-leading clinical research expertise, we are creating high-fidelity digital twins that will fundamentally alter the drug development paradigm, allowing biotech pioneers to de-risk assets in a virtual environment and run the most efficient trials."
HiRO and Differentia expect to share additional details on specific collaborative initiatives as the partnership progresses.
About HiRO
Harvest Integrated Research Organization (HiRO) is a full-service global CRO delivering end-to-end clinical trial services across oncology, rare diseases, dermatology, metabolic disease, and specialized modalities including cell and gene therapy and radiopharmaceuticals. With more than 30 years of collective experience serving small, mid-size, and large biotech and pharma clients, over 500 professionals, and 1,600 trials delivered across 85 countries, HiRO combines global reach with regionally informed execution across North America, Europe, APAC, and ANZ. Learn more at www.harvestiro.com.
About Differentia Biotech
Differentia Bio is a San Francisco-based technology company building the AI-powered digital twin simulation and decision intelligence platform for drug R&D and life sciences. Combining AI with quantitative biosciences, Differentia enables life science decision makers to simulate critical decisions before committing real-world time, capital, and patients. Its validated, regulatory-ready simulation capabilities help biopharma decision makers to optimize development, accelerate regulatory submissions, and improve the value of their assets and portfolios. For more information, visit www.differentiabio.com.
Media Contacts
HiRO Marketing - info@harvestiro.com
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