The Pfizer-led Physical Activity Harmonization Mission Has Launched!

The Physical Activity Harmonization Mission is officially underway, having kicked off in late June. This Pfizer-led consortium, in partnership with DEEP Measures, includes four pharmaceutical companies, one academic institution, and one clinical technology provider, bringing multiple perspectives to the table from day one. The mission aims to establish cross-industry consensus on terminology and definitions for measures of physical activity, creating a shared scientific foundation that accelerates innovation, evidence generation, and regulatory alignment.

The Challenge

The advancements in digital health technologies now enable detailed quantification of human movement and physical function in both clinical trials and real‑world settings. However, inconsistencies and confusion around the terminologies including physical activity, physical function, physical behavior, and mobility, undermines measurement validity, limits cross‑study comparability and complicates regulatory review. Misaligned definitions across pharma sponsors, device manufacturers, academic groups, and regulatory bodies constrain data harmonization and ultimately slow clinical translation of these measures.

Our Goal

This mission seeks consensus on harmonized terminologies and definitions for measures of physical activity. It will resolve key ambiguities, including distinctions among physical function, physical activity, physical behavior, and mobility; active vs. non-sedentary behavior; and gait vs. walking speed. It will also seek consensus on how interpretable these measures are to patients.

How We’ll Get There

• Assemble a diverse expert panel spanning industry, academia, technology, and patient representatives
• Conduct three Delphi panel survey rounds to build iterative consensus
• Obtain early regulatory feedback and advice on measure definitions through direct regulatory agency interaction
• Publish an original research paper co-authored by participants, documenting our findings for the broader scientific and regulatory community

Why This Matters

For the industry:

A common language, reinforced by direct regulatory engagement, enables meaningful dialog with regulators, health technology assessment bodies and notified bodies, accelerating the path from innovation to impact.

For patients:

Better measurement standards mean better evidence and interpretable measures, which lead to better treatments and interventions that improve lives.

Connect with us to learn more

We’re excited about this important initiative and encourage the community to connect with us to learn more about contributing to this mission or launching something similar in a different domain.

For additional information or to receive updates on this mission, please contact us here.