Advancing multi-database cohort studies: lessons learned from a studyathon in a pharmaceutical company.

Objectives: To evaluate the feasibility and applicability of the studyathon format within a pharmaceutical company setting for generating reliable real-world evidence rapidly for a business-relevant research question. Materials and methods: Conducted at Bayer, the studyathon assessed recurrent events following a first-ever transient ischemic attack. It involved an 8-week preparatory phase, a 1-week execution phase, and a 3-week post-event phase, using multiple real-world data sources. Results: The studyathon concluded successfully with a conference abstract submission. Key learnings included the importance of defining precise research questions, organizational alignment, thorough preparation, and leveraging diverse expertise and skill sets. Discussion: The studyathon format proved suited for a pharmaceutical setting and revealed insights into its application. Our learnings highlight differences from multi-stakeholder community studyathons. Conclusion: The studyathon demonstrated its potential as a valuable research approach within a pharmaceutical company. It improved study timelines and cross-functional collaboration while preserving scientific rigor.