Comparison
Astraea vs. Hill Research (TriClick)
Hill Research is an AI-augmented biostatistics CRO whose TriClick platform produces SDTM, ADaM, and TFL outputs. Astraea automates everything after protocol and raw data — SAP, eCRFs, TFLs and their shells, SDTM and ADaM datasets, Define-XML, and QC — deployed inside your own environment, where your data never leaves your systems.
What is Astraea?
Astraea is clinical trial automation software that pharmaceutical sponsors run themselves — not a CRO, and not a web-hosted service. It automates everything after protocol design and raw data collection: the SAP, eCRFs, TFLs, SDTM and ADaM datasets, Define-XML, QC, and the full set of FDA submission documents, in one auditable system. Because forward-deployed engineers install it inside the sponsor's own environment, Astraea never sees or holds your data. It is backed by Y Combinator (P26) and works across oncology, rare disease, other therapeutic areas, and medical devices.
The verdict
Hill Research is the right choice for teams that want an AI-augmented services partner — embedded biostatisticians and programmers who deliver SDTM, ADaM, and TFL outputs with TriClick. Astraea is the right choice for teams that want everything after protocol and raw data automated in one auditable system — SAP, eCRFs, TFLs and their shells, datasets, Define-XML, and QC — deployed inside their own environment, where Astraea never sees their data, with predictable pricing instead of per-table credits. Astraea is software sponsors run to control their own trials — not a CRO that runs them for you.
Side by side
How Astraea compares to TriClick.
Both use AI to generate datasets. The difference is scope: one end-to-end pipeline deployed in your environment versus SDTM, ADaM, and TFL outputs delivered with CRO and FSP services.
| Criterion | Astraea | Hill Research (TriClick) |
|---|---|---|
| Automates everything after protocol & raw data | YesSAP, eCRFs, TFLs, SDTM/ADaM, Define-XML, QC, documents — one system | PartialOutputs are limited to SDTM, ADaM, and TFL datasets |
| Generates SDTM & ADaM datasets from raw data | YesDataset generation is core to the pipeline | YesProduces SDTM and ADaM datasets |
| Generates TFL outputs (tables, figures, listings) | YesGenerated in the same flow as the datasets | YesProduces TFL outputs |
| Generates TFL shells | YesProduces the TFL shells, not just the populated outputs | NoProduces TFL outputs only — not the shells |
| Generates SAP, eCRFs, Define-XML & submission documents | YesGenerates the SAP, eCRFs, Define-XML, and submission documents automatically | NoNot part of TriClick's outputs |
| Agentic AI automation | YesAgentic execution across the full pipeline | YesMultiple task-specific AI agents |
| Human-in-the-loop control | YesNamed-reviewer sign-off on every output | YesAI paired with embedded biostatisticians |
| Deployed in your environment (data never leaves) | YesInstalled in your systems by forward-deployed engineers; Astraea never sees your data | PartialCloud-based platform; data processed in the vendor environment |
| Auditability & 21 CFR Part 11 | YesFull lineage, versioning, audit-ready by construction | YesAudit trails, 21 CFR Part 11 / GxP alignment |
| Therapeutic & indication coverage | YesClients across oncology, rare disease, other indications, and devices | YesCross-indication biostatistics experience |
| Pricing model | YesPlatform pricing — predictable across the pipeline | PartialSelf-serve metered by per-table credits; team pricing via sales |
| Full-service regulatory & medical-writing breadth | NoFocused on the automation pipeline, not full CRO services | YesDMC/DSMB support, medical writing, publications, human accountability |
Where Hill Research wins
What Hill Research and TriClick do best.
AI-augmented CRO & FSP services
Hill Research pairs TriClick with embedded biostatisticians and programmers. Teams that want people accountable for delivery — not just software — get a services partner with automation built in.
Self-serve dataset outputs you can trial
TriClick produces SDTM, ADaM, and TFL outputs and is available self-serve, so a programmer can test dataset and table generation before any procurement conversation.
Full regulatory breadth
Beyond the automation itself, Hill Research offers SAP consulting, DMC/DSMB support, medical writing, and publications as a services partner. Teams that want a CRO to run those functions — not just software — get that breadth from Hill Research.
Where Astraea wins
One pipeline, in your environment.
01 · The whole chain, not just outputs
Everything after protocol and raw data, in one system.
TriClick produces SDTM, ADaM, and TFL outputs — not the TFL shells, and not the SAP, eCRFs, Define-XML, or submission documents. Astraea generates the SAP, eCRFs, TFLs and their shells, SDTM and ADaM datasets, Define-XML, and QC end to end in one auditable system, so every output is produced and traced together.
02 · Predictable pricing
Platform pricing, not per-table credits.
TriClick's self-serve plans meter usage in per-table credits, with team pricing handled through sales. Astraea is priced as a platform that covers the pipeline, so cost does not scale unpredictably with the number of tables a study generates.
03 · Deployed in your environment
Your data never leaves your systems.
Astraea is not a web-hosted service. Forward-deployed engineers integrate it into your own environment and work alongside your team, and Astraea never sees your data. It is software your team runs to create and control your own trials — not a CRO or FSP that runs them for you — with named-reviewer sign-off on every output.
FAQ
Astraea vs. TriClick, answered.
The questions biometrics and biostatistics leads ask most when weighing a single end-to-end pipeline against task tools delivered with services.
Astraea vs. Hill Research (TriClick) — Common Questions
Is Astraea better than Hill Research's TriClick?
What is the difference between Astraea and TriClick?
Is Astraea cheaper than TriClick?
Can Astraea replace TriClick?
Who should use Hill Research instead of Astraea?
See months of biometrics work compressed into days.
Astraea automates everything after protocol and raw data — SAP, eCRFs, TFLs, datasets, Define-XML, and QC — in one auditable system, deployed inside your environment where your data never leaves, with statisticians in control of every decision.