Compare Astraea
Astraea vs. TriClick Software & Hill Research Services
TriClick is Hill Research's cloud AI software for Annotation, Compliance, Evidence, and Stats. Hill Research separately offers project-based biostatistics and FSP services. Astraea is sponsor-operated software for the connected post-protocol-to-submission pipeline inside your own environment.
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
Choose TriClick when evaluating Hill Research's cloud software for defined biometrics tasks. Choose Hill Research's project-based or FSP services when you want staffed delivery or specialists embedded in sponsor systems. Astraea is the broader software choice for teams that want one sponsor-operated, in-environment pipeline from post-protocol work through submission. TriClick software and Hill Research services are separate offers and should be evaluated separately.
What changes operationally?
A quick view of where the workflow runs, who operates it, and what capability remains with your team.
| Decision question | Astraea | TriClick software / Hill Research services | Bottom line |
|---|---|---|---|
| What is the delivery model? | Sponsor-operated software | TriClick software; separate project-based and FSP services | TriClick is the product; Hill Research's project and FSP offerings are services. |
| Where does data processing occur? | Inside the sponsor's environment | TriClick's cloud environment | Astraea avoids adding a vendor-hosted data boundary. |
| Who owns the workflow after implementation? | Sponsor team | TriClick users operate software; Hill FSP staff work in sponsor systems | Separate the software operating model from Hill Research's staffed service models. |
| How broad is the documented delivery scope? | One connected sponsor-operated pipeline from SAP through submission documents | TriClick documents four software tools; Hill's service pages document staffed deliverables | Do not attribute Hill Research service deliverables to TriClick software. |
When to choose TriClick software / Hill Research services
Choose Hill Research services when the sponsor wants staffed project delivery or FSP specialists; evaluate TriClick separately as software.
When to choose Astraea
Choose Astraea when the sponsor wants to operate and control the capability internally, inside its own environment.
Map one current workflow before comparing vendors.
Bring one biometrics or submission workflow. Astraea will map where data moves, who owns each handoff, and what could run inside your environment.
Side by side
TriClick software and Hill Research services, separated.
Both use AI across biometrics workflows. Compare the layers separately: TriClick is a modular cloud product, Hill Research also sells CRO/FSP services, and Astraea is one connected sponsor-operated pipeline installed inside your environment.
| Criterion | Astraea | TriClick software / Hill Research services |
|---|---|---|
| Automates everything after protocol & raw data | YesSAP, eCRFs, TFLs, SDTM/ADaM, Define-XML, QC, documents — one system | PartialTriClick software documents four core tools; Hill Research services separately cover broader staffed work |
| Generates SDTM & ADaM datasets from raw data | YesDataset generation is core to the pipeline | PartialTriClick describes SDTM and ADaM validation; Hill Research's FSP services describe dataset construction |
| Generates TFL outputs (tables, figures, listings) | YesGenerated in the same flow as the datasets | YesTriClick Stats documents generation of tables, listings, and figures |
| Generates TFL shells | YesProduces the TFL shells, not just the populated outputs | PartialTriClick's public page documents populated TLF generation, not TFL-shell generation |
| Generates SAP, eCRFs, Define-XML & submission documents | YesGenerates the SAP, eCRFs, Define-XML, and submission documents automatically | PartialTriClick documents aCRF annotation; Hill Research's project services separately list SAP and Define.xml deliverables |
| 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 | YesHill Research's FSP services pair specialists with AI-enabled tools including TriClick |
| 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 | YesTriClick Pro lists audit logs; Hill Research states 21 CFR Part 11 and GxP requirements for FSP deliverables |
| 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 | YesHill Research's project services list DMC/DSMB support and medical writing; these are services, not TriClick features |
Where Hill Research services fit
What TriClick software and Hill Research services each offer.
Project-based biostatistics services
Hill Research offers staffed project delivery by biostatisticians, programmers, and medical writers, from trial planning through regulatory submission support. This is a service offering, not a TriClick software feature.
Self-serve product evaluation
TriClick publishes individual plans for testing its Annotation, Compliance, Evidence, and Stats tools before a team or enterprise procurement process.
Embedded FSP specialists
Hill Research's FSP professionals embed within sponsor teams and operate under sponsor systems, SOPs, and governance. Hill says those specialists use AI-enabled tools including TriClick for dataset conversion, TLF generation, and QC validation.
Where Astraea wins
One pipeline, in your environment.
Generate and trace the workflow in one system.
Astraea connects the SAP, eCRFs, TFL shells and outputs, SDTM and ADaM datasets, Define-XML, QC, and submission documents in one sponsor-operated product. TriClick documents modular tools, while Hill's broader deliverables are also provided through CRO and FSP services.
Your data never leaves your systems.
TriClick is a cloud-based platform that processes clinical trial datasets under data-processing and security agreements. Forward-deployed engineers install Astraea inside your own environment, and Astraea never sees or holds your data.
Your team controls the workflow and every decision.
Hill Research combines TriClick with CRO, project-based, and FSP delivery. Astraea is software your statisticians and programmers operate themselves, with named-reviewer sign-off on every output and no transfer of scientific ownership to a services vendor.
FAQ
Astraea, TriClick, and Hill Research services, answered.
Direct answers for teams comparing Astraea with TriClick software or with Hill Research's separate project-based and FSP services.
Is Astraea better than TriClick?
Astraea fits teams seeking one sponsor-operated, in-environment pipeline from post-protocol work through submission. TriClick is Hill Research's cloud software for specific clinical biometrics tasks. Hill Research's project-based and FSP offerings are separate service models for teams seeking staffed delivery or embedded specialists.
What is the difference between Astraea and TriClick?
TriClick is Hill Research's cloud-based AI software with Annotation, Compliance, Evidence, and Stats tools. Hill Research separately offers project-based biostatistics and FSP services delivered by biostatisticians, programmers, medical writers, and embedded specialists. Astraea is sponsor-operated software installed inside the sponsor's environment.
Is Astraea cheaper than TriClick?
The models differ. TriClick's self-serve plans are metered by per-table credits, ranging from about $79 to $799 per month for 10 to 120 table credits, with team and enterprise pricing handled through sales. Astraea is priced as a platform covering the whole pipeline, so cost does not scale per table. Total cost depends on study volume and scope.
Can Astraea replace TriClick?
Astraea can replace or complement TriClick workflows when a sponsor wants one installed product spanning the post-protocol-to-submission pipeline. That software comparison is separate from Hill Research's project-based and FSP services, which provide staffed delivery or specialists embedded within sponsor teams.
Who should use Hill Research instead of Astraea?
Teams seeking project-based biostatistics delivery or FSP specialists embedded in their systems, SOPs, and governance should consider Hill Research's services. Individual users can evaluate TriClick software through its published self-serve plans. Teams seeking sponsor-operated automation inside their own environment should consider 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.