{"success":true,"data":{"pressRelease":{"id":"20954","rtpr_id":"nPn5HX9JPa","ticker":"ORCL","exchange":"NYSE","all_tickers":["ORCL"],"title":"Oracle Supports Africa Clinical Research Network (ACRN) to Advance a New Era of Clinical Research, Launches First Trial","author":"PR Newswire","published_at":"2026-05-05T12:00:21.057Z","article_body":"Oracle Supports Africa Clinical Research Network (ACRN) to Advance a New Era of Clinical Research, Launches First Trial\n\nPR Newswire\n\nAUSTIN, Texas, May 5, 2026\n\nAfrican-led organization empowers clinicians and research professionals to\naccelerate equitable research and innovation with Oracle's leading safety\nsolutions and powerful analytics\n\nAUSTIN, Texas, May 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Africa Clinical Research\nNetwork (ACRN) has launched its first clinical trial with Oracle in Africa,\nwhich commenced in February 2026. The PROgnostic Testing to Enhance Clinical\nTriage of Pre-eclampsia in Africa (PROTECT-Africa) trial aims to define,\nvalidate, and evaluate the clinical performance of placental biomarkers using\ninnovative point-of-care platforms. The study will predict the absence or\noccurrence of severe pre-eclampsia-related maternal and fetal outcomes among\nAfrican women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.\n\n(https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1766551/Oracle_Logo_Logo.html)\n\nThis trial is being conducted in Zimbabwe, Rwanda, and Tanzania and aims to\nrecruit 1,106 pregnant women. Pre-eclampsia, along with severe complications\nsuch as eclampsia and HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low\nplatelet count) syndrome, is a leading cause of maternal and fetal morbidity\nglobally, particularly in resource-limited settings across Africa.\n\nACRN selected Oracle's clinical trial and safety applications to advance its\nregion-led, patient-centric research initiatives, focused on delivering\nessential treatments to communities faster and more equitably. The\ncomprehensive Oracle cloud platform, including Oracle Clinical One, Argus\nSafety, and analytics, can help ACRN automate workflows, manage critical data,\nand run more efficient trials with the goal of enhancing safety and expanding\npatient access to clinical research across Africa.\n\n\"Our mission at ACRN is to empower African researchers to lead and participate\nin clinical trials that directly address the health needs of our communities,\"\nsaid Tariro Makadzange, chief executive officer, Africa Clinical Research\nNetwork. \"Oracle's robust and integrated clinical trial and safety solutions\nwill enable us to conduct studies with greater efficiency, transparency, and,\nmost importantly, an unwavering focus on patient well-being.\"\n\nDelivering new research and innovation across Africa\nCurrently, less than three percent of global clinical trials are conducted in\nAfrica\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4680015-1&h=3299401870&u=https%3A%2F%2Fpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Farticles%2FPMC12110202%2F&a=less+than+three+percent+of+global+clinical+trials+are+conducted+in+Africa)\n(1). To help change this dynamic and expand access to research opportunities,\nACRN is building a pan-African clinical research ecosystem to address the\nsignificant disparity in research representation between Africa and the rest\nof the world. ACRN aims to accelerate medical innovations that are relevant\nand accessible to African populations by leveraging Oracle's modern,\ncloud-based clinical trial infrastructure and supporting local research teams.\nAs part of this effort, ACRN has selected an initial cohort of 59 network\nsites across 14 countries: Senegal, The Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda,\nEthiopia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Malawi, Botswana, South Africa, Zambia, and\nZimbabwe.\n\nIn addition to the PROTECT-Africa trial, ACRN plans to launch additional\nclinical trials focused on global health this year. With Oracle's leading\nclinical and safety solutions, the organization can optimize study startup,\nstreamline trial execution, and improve data connectivity and quality, all\nwhile maintaining high levels of patient safety. ACRN's initiative to build\nrobust, self-sustaining clinical research capacity across Africa can\ncontribute to a more equitable and globally representative landscape of\nmedical innovation.\n\n\"Our collaboration with the Africa Clinical Research Network is a significant\nstep toward advancing modern, patient-centric research that can help\naccelerate scientific breakthroughs across Africa,\" said Seema Verma,\nexecutive vice president and general manager, Oracle Health and Life Sciences.\n\"Together, we are creating the digital framework to enable innovation and AI\nintegration into clinical research across the continent. The organization's\non-the-ground expertise and dedication, combined with our cloud-based clinical\ntrial and safety solutions, create a meaningful opportunity to drive\ninnovation throughout the region, help bridge the research gap between Africa\nand the rest of the world, and ultimately support better health outcomes for\ncommunities.\"\n\nLearn more about the ACRN and Oracle collaboration in this video\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4680015-1&h=845757749&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fposts%2Fafrica-clinical-research-network-acrn_digitalhealth-clinicalresearch-globalhealth-activity-7449779627138580480-iDda%3Futm_source%3Dshare%26utm_medium%3Dmember_desktop%26rcm%3DACoAAEt9LLgB0FEq5esr4JVKRcBDkC9Y7E0bBh0&a=this+video)\n.\n\nLearn how customers like ACRN use Oracle's unified life sciences platform to\nmanage the full clinical trial lifecycle—from planning and site activation\nto data collection, analysis, and safety reporting—at\nwww.oracle.com/lifesciences\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4680015-1&h=664284575&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.oracle.com%2Flifesciences%2F&a=www.oracle.com%2Flifesciences)\n.\n\nAbout Africa Clinical Research Network\nThe Africa Clinical Research Network (ACRN) is an African-led organization\nbuilding a high-quality, connected platform for the delivery of clinical\ntrials across Africa. ACRN works with healthcare institutions, investigators,\nindustry, and public sector partners to strengthen site readiness, workforce\ncapability, regulatory coordination, and data-driven trial execution. Its\nmission is to expand access to research opportunities and accelerate the\ndevelopment of medicines and health innovations relevant to African\npopulations. www.acrnhealth.com\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4680015-1&h=2767470744&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.acrnhealth.com%2F&a=www.acrnhealth.com)\n\nAbout Oracle Life Sciences\nOracle Life Sciences is a leader in cloud technology, pharmaceutical research,\nand consulting, trusted globally by professionals in both large and emerging\ncompanies engaged in clinical research and pharmacovigilance throughout the\ntherapeutic development lifecycle, including pre- and post-drug launch\nactivities. With more than 20 years of experience, Oracle Life Sciences is\ncommitted to supporting clinical development and leveraging real-world\nevidence to deliver innovation and accelerate advancements—empowering the\nlife sciences industry to improve patient outcomes. Learn more\nat www.oracle.com/lifesciences\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4680015-1&h=664284575&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.oracle.com%2Flifesciences%2F&a=www.oracle.com%2Flifesciences)\n.\n\nAbout Oracle\nOracle offers integrated suites of applications plus secure, autonomous\ninfrastructure in the Oracle Cloud. For more information about Oracle (NYSE:\nORCL), please visit us at www.oracle.com\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4680015-1&h=3387406042&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.oracle.com%2F&a=www.oracle.com)\n.\n\nTrademarks\nOracle, Java, MySQL, and NetSuite are registered trademarks of Oracle\nCorporation. NetSuite was the first cloud company—ushering in the new era of\ncloud computing.\n\n(1) Ethiopian Journal of Health Science - Breaking the barriers for conducting\nclinical trials in Africa: A need for higher commitment and collaborations,\nMay 2024, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12110202/\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4680015-1&h=3848351116&u=https%3A%2F%2Fpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Farticles%2FPMC12110202%2F&a=https%3A%2F%2Fpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Farticles%2FPMC12110202%2F)\n\nView original content to download\nmultimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/oracle-supports-africa-clinical-research-network-acrn-to-advance-a-new-era-of-clinical-research-launches-first-trial-302761684.html\n(https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/oracle-supports-africa-clinical-research-network-acrn-to-advance-a-new-era-of-clinical-research-launches-first-trial-302761684.html)\n\nSOURCE Oracle\n\n\n\nJudi Palmer, Oracle, Corporate Communications, judi.palmer@oracle.com; ACRN: coms@acrnhealth.com\n\nPhoto: \nhttps://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1766551/Oracle_Logo_Logo.jpg\n\nCopyright (c) 2026 PR Newswire Association,LLC. All Rights Reserved.","article_body_html":"","raw_payload":{"data":{"id":"nPn5HX9JPa","title":"Oracle Supports Africa Clinical Research Network (ACRN) to Advance a New Era of Clinical Research, Launches First Trial","author":"PR Newswire","ticker":"ORCL","created":"2026-05-05T12:00:21.057Z","tickers":["ORCL"],"exchange":"NYSE","article_body":"Oracle Supports Africa Clinical Research Network (ACRN) to Advance a New Era of Clinical Research, Launches First Trial\n\nPR Newswire\n\nAUSTIN, Texas, May 5, 2026\n\nAfrican-led organization empowers clinicians and research professionals to\naccelerate equitable research and innovation with Oracle's leading safety\nsolutions and powerful analytics\n\nAUSTIN, Texas, May 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Africa Clinical Research\nNetwork (ACRN) has launched its first clinical trial with Oracle in Africa,\nwhich commenced in February 2026. The PROgnostic Testing to Enhance Clinical\nTriage of Pre-eclampsia in Africa (PROTECT-Africa) trial aims to define,\nvalidate, and evaluate the clinical performance of placental biomarkers using\ninnovative point-of-care platforms. The study will predict the absence or\noccurrence of severe pre-eclampsia-related maternal and fetal outcomes among\nAfrican women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.\n\n(https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1766551/Oracle_Logo_Logo.html)\n\nThis trial is being conducted in Zimbabwe, Rwanda, and Tanzania and aims to\nrecruit 1,106 pregnant women. Pre-eclampsia, along with severe complications\nsuch as eclampsia and HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low\nplatelet count) syndrome, is a leading cause of maternal and fetal morbidity\nglobally, particularly in resource-limited settings across Africa.\n\nACRN selected Oracle's clinical trial and safety applications to advance its\nregion-led, patient-centric research initiatives, focused on delivering\nessential treatments to communities faster and more equitably. The\ncomprehensive Oracle cloud platform, including Oracle Clinical One, Argus\nSafety, and analytics, can help ACRN automate workflows, manage critical data,\nand run more efficient trials with the goal of enhancing safety and expanding\npatient access to clinical research across Africa.\n\n\"Our mission at ACRN is to empower African researchers to lead and participate\nin clinical trials that directly address the health needs of our communities,\"\nsaid Tariro Makadzange, chief executive officer, Africa Clinical Research\nNetwork. \"Oracle's robust and integrated clinical trial and safety solutions\nwill enable us to conduct studies with greater efficiency, transparency, and,\nmost importantly, an unwavering focus on patient well-being.\"\n\nDelivering new research and innovation across Africa\nCurrently, less than three percent of global clinical trials are conducted in\nAfrica\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4680015-1&h=3299401870&u=https%3A%2F%2Fpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Farticles%2FPMC12110202%2F&a=less+than+three+percent+of+global+clinical+trials+are+conducted+in+Africa)\n(1). To help change this dynamic and expand access to research opportunities,\nACRN is building a pan-African clinical research ecosystem to address the\nsignificant disparity in research representation between Africa and the rest\nof the world. ACRN aims to accelerate medical innovations that are relevant\nand accessible to African populations by leveraging Oracle's modern,\ncloud-based clinical trial infrastructure and supporting local research teams.\nAs part of this effort, ACRN has selected an initial cohort of 59 network\nsites across 14 countries: Senegal, The Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda,\nEthiopia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Malawi, Botswana, South Africa, Zambia, and\nZimbabwe.\n\nIn addition to the PROTECT-Africa trial, ACRN plans to launch additional\nclinical trials focused on global health this year. With Oracle's leading\nclinical and safety solutions, the organization can optimize study startup,\nstreamline trial execution, and improve data connectivity and quality, all\nwhile maintaining high levels of patient safety. ACRN's initiative to build\nrobust, self-sustaining clinical research capacity across Africa can\ncontribute to a more equitable and globally representative landscape of\nmedical innovation.\n\n\"Our collaboration with the Africa Clinical Research Network is a significant\nstep toward advancing modern, patient-centric research that can help\naccelerate scientific breakthroughs across Africa,\" said Seema Verma,\nexecutive vice president and general manager, Oracle Health and Life Sciences.\n\"Together, we are creating the digital framework to enable innovation and AI\nintegration into clinical research across the continent. The organization's\non-the-ground expertise and dedication, combined with our cloud-based clinical\ntrial and safety solutions, create a meaningful opportunity to drive\ninnovation throughout the region, help bridge the research gap between Africa\nand the rest of the world, and ultimately support better health outcomes for\ncommunities.\"\n\nLearn more about the ACRN and Oracle collaboration in this video\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4680015-1&h=845757749&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fposts%2Fafrica-clinical-research-network-acrn_digitalhealth-clinicalresearch-globalhealth-activity-7449779627138580480-iDda%3Futm_source%3Dshare%26utm_medium%3Dmember_desktop%26rcm%3DACoAAEt9LLgB0FEq5esr4JVKRcBDkC9Y7E0bBh0&a=this+video)\n.\n\nLearn how customers like ACRN use Oracle's unified life sciences platform to\nmanage the full clinical trial lifecycle—from planning and site activation\nto data collection, analysis, and safety reporting—at\nwww.oracle.com/lifesciences\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4680015-1&h=664284575&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.oracle.com%2Flifesciences%2F&a=www.oracle.com%2Flifesciences)\n.\n\nAbout Africa Clinical Research Network\nThe Africa Clinical Research Network (ACRN) is an African-led organization\nbuilding a high-quality, connected platform for the delivery of clinical\ntrials across Africa. ACRN works with healthcare institutions, investigators,\nindustry, and public sector partners to strengthen site readiness, workforce\ncapability, regulatory coordination, and data-driven trial execution. Its\nmission is to expand access to research opportunities and accelerate the\ndevelopment of medicines and health innovations relevant to African\npopulations. www.acrnhealth.com\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4680015-1&h=2767470744&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.acrnhealth.com%2F&a=www.acrnhealth.com)\n\nAbout Oracle Life Sciences\nOracle Life Sciences is a leader in cloud technology, pharmaceutical research,\nand consulting, trusted globally by professionals in both large and emerging\ncompanies engaged in clinical research and pharmacovigilance throughout the\ntherapeutic development lifecycle, including pre- and post-drug launch\nactivities. With more than 20 years of experience, Oracle Life Sciences is\ncommitted to supporting clinical development and leveraging real-world\nevidence to deliver innovation and accelerate advancements—empowering the\nlife sciences industry to improve patient outcomes. Learn more\nat www.oracle.com/lifesciences\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4680015-1&h=664284575&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.oracle.com%2Flifesciences%2F&a=www.oracle.com%2Flifesciences)\n.\n\nAbout Oracle\nOracle offers integrated suites of applications plus secure, autonomous\ninfrastructure in the Oracle Cloud. For more information about Oracle (NYSE:\nORCL), please visit us at www.oracle.com\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4680015-1&h=3387406042&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.oracle.com%2F&a=www.oracle.com)\n.\n\nTrademarks\nOracle, Java, MySQL, and NetSuite are registered trademarks of Oracle\nCorporation. NetSuite was the first cloud company—ushering in the new era of\ncloud computing.\n\n(1) Ethiopian Journal of Health Science - Breaking the barriers for conducting\nclinical trials in Africa: A need for higher commitment and collaborations,\nMay 2024, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12110202/\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4680015-1&h=3848351116&u=https%3A%2F%2Fpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Farticles%2FPMC12110202%2F&a=https%3A%2F%2Fpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Farticles%2FPMC12110202%2F)\n\nView original content to download\nmultimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/oracle-supports-africa-clinical-research-network-acrn-to-advance-a-new-era-of-clinical-research-launches-first-trial-302761684.html\n(https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/oracle-supports-africa-clinical-research-network-acrn-to-advance-a-new-era-of-clinical-research-launches-first-trial-302761684.html)\n\nSOURCE Oracle\n\n\n\nJudi Palmer, Oracle, Corporate Communications, judi.palmer@oracle.com; ACRN: coms@acrnhealth.com\n\nPhoto: \nhttps://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1766551/Oracle_Logo_Logo.jpg\n\nCopyright (c) 2026 PR Newswire Association,LLC. All Rights Reserved."},"type":"article","timestamp":"2026-05-05T12:00:21.110028411Z","server_sent_at_ms":1777982421110},"received_at":"2026-05-05T12:00:21.164Z","source_url":null},"analysis":{"id":"15502","press_release_id":"20954","analysis_json":{"industry":{"label":"Software & Services","sector":"Information Technology"},"redFlags":[],"eventType":"partnership","narrative":"Oracle announced a partnership with the Africa Clinical Research Network (ACRN) to support the launch of the PROTECT-Africa clinical trial using Oracle's Clinical One and Argus Safety platforms.\n\nThe trial, which commenced in February 2026, aims to recruit 1,106 pregnant women across Zimbabwe, Rwanda, and Tanzania to validate biomarkers for predicting pre-eclampsia outcomes.\n\nACRN plans to leverage Oracle's cloud platform across 59 initial sites in 14 countries to expand clinical research access and capabilities throughout the continent.","sentiment":"bullish","agentHooks":{"shouldPost":false,"suggestedAngle":"Oracle Life Sciences expands footprint in Africa via ACRN partnership."},"keyFigures":{"customDimensions":{"trial_start":"February 2026","network_sites":59,"partner_countries":14,"trial_recruitment_target":1106}},"quotedText":"Together, we are creating the digital framework to enable innovation and AI integration into clinical research across the continent.","namedEntities":{"people":[{"name":"Tariro Makadzange","role":"Chief Executive Officer, Africa Clinical Research Network"},{"name":"Seema Verma","role":"Executive Vice President and General Manager, Oracle Health and Life Sciences"}],"products":["Oracle Clinical One","Argus Safety"],"companies":[{"name":"Oracle","ticker":"ORCL"},{"name":"Africa Clinical Research Network","relationship":"partner"}],"dollarAmounts":[]},"materialImpact":{"score":1,"reasoning":"Business development announcement for Oracle Life Sciences involving a regional clinical research network. No financial terms disclosed, and for a mega-cap like Oracle, specific regional partnerships of this scale lack material stock price impact."},"tickerRelevance":{"others":[],"primary":"ORCL"},"globalImportance":15,"audienceRelevance":25,"eventTypeSecondary":[],"importanceComponents":{"tickerTier":"mega_cap","eventGravity":"partnership_announcement","financialMateriality":"low"}},"event_type":"partnership","event_type_secondary":null,"sentiment":"bullish","material_impact_score":1,"narrative":"Oracle announced a partnership with the Africa Clinical Research Network (ACRN) to support the launch of the PROTECT-Africa clinical trial using Oracle's Clinical One and Argus Safety platforms.\n\nThe trial, which commenced in February 2026, aims to recruit 1,106 pregnant women across Zimbabwe, Rwanda, and Tanzania to validate biomarkers for predicting pre-eclampsia outcomes.\n\nACRN plans to leverage Oracle's cloud platform across 59 initial sites in 14 countries to expand clinical research access and capabilities throughout the continent.","key_figures":{"customDimensions":{"trial_start":"February 2026","network_sites":59,"partner_countries":14,"trial_recruitment_target":1106}},"named_entities":{"people":[{"name":"Tariro Makadzange","role":"Chief Executive Officer, Africa Clinical Research Network"},{"name":"Seema Verma","role":"Executive Vice President and General Manager, Oracle Health and Life Sciences"}],"products":["Oracle Clinical One","Argus Safety"],"companies":[{"name":"Oracle","ticker":"ORCL"},{"name":"Africa Clinical Research Network","relationship":"partner"}],"dollarAmounts":[]},"model_name":"glm-4.7","prompt_hash":"sha256:a2703c5a1b5285fe","schema_hash":"sha256:1f8af1196c7db48c","created_at":"2026-05-05T13:50:43.035Z","global_importance":15,"audience_relevance":25,"importance_components":{"tickerTier":"mega_cap","eventGravity":"partnership_announcement","financialMateriality":"low"}},"durationMs":143724,"modelName":"glm-4.7"}}