Table 4.
Results of LCA for representative asthma trial
| Category | Activity | Carbon (tCO2e) | Contribution |
| Study team | Facilities | 19 | 1.30% |
| Staff commuting | 10 | 0.69% | |
| Study drug impact | IP and placebo (including inhaler device) | 24 | 1.66% |
| Patient journey | Patient visits | 128 | 8.91% |
| Patient communication materials | 0.4 | 0.03% | |
| Sample life cycle | Global biobank storage | 2 | 0.15% |
| Samples for analysis and storage | 179 | 12.50% | |
| Pregnancy tests | 0.4 | 0.03% | |
| Testing kits | 21 | 1.48% | |
| Other procured services* (third-party vendors) | Documentation and communication | 27 | 1.88% |
| Data management | 16 | 1.09% | |
| Device, software and online tools | 10 | 0.66% | |
| External trial management, CRO (estimated) | 166 | 11.60% | |
| Other services | 6 | 0.44% | |
| Trial devices and software | Home spirometry device with eDiary (assumed 1-year lifetime) | 260 | 18.10% |
| On-site spirometry device (assumed 7-year lifetime) | 76 | 5.30% | |
| FeNO measurement device (assumed 1-year lifetime) | 53 | 3.70% | |
| Cough monitor device (subgroup of 50 patients) | 0.31 | 0.02% | |
| ePRO devices | 54 | 3.75% | |
| Investigator and trial site management | Site monitor visits | 165 | 11.50% |
| Trial site utilities | 114 | 7.91% | |
| Investigator and support staff commuting | 87 | 6.06% | |
| Global trial management | Investigator and monitor meetings | 0.69 | 0.05% |
| DMC meetings | 0.14 | 0.01% | |
| IRB/IEC meetings (30 local f2f and 10 virtual, 57 hybrid) | 18 | 1.26% | |
| Global study team meetings | ND | ND | |
| Total | 1437 | 100% | |
| Per randomised patient (kg of CO2e) | 718 |
CO2e, carbon dioxide equivalent; CRO, Clinical Research Organisation; DMC, data monitoring committee; ePRO, electronic patient-reported outcome; IP, investigational product; IRB/IEC, Independent Review Board/Independent Ethical Committee; LCA, life cycle assessment; ND, no data.