The Multifaceted Future of Pharma – Chapter 6: AI: Transforming Discovery and Development
The anticipated changes brought about by the integration of AI in clinical and preclinical phases are set to revolutionize the drug discovery and development processes. Key themes include accelerated accuracy in the trials and approvals processes, and improved understanding of a disease at the molecular level. Take it from those witnessing these changes in their everyday operations.
We asked: “Looking ahead to the next 5–10 years, what will be the key disruptors and/or what can be improved upon in the pharma industry?”
Transformation Through AI and Machine Learning – with Chris Arendt, Chief Scientific Officer and Head of Research, Takeda
“The integration of AI and ML technologies stands to dramatically transform the biopharma industry. Iterative in silico learning systems that benefit from large training datasets and that integrate wet lab validation experiments are starting to deliver significant gains in the quality and speed of target identification, hit finding, and candidate optimization. The preclinical proof-points are encouraging, and the hope is that these strides translate into higher quality clinical candidates delivered more quickly to the patients who can most benefit.”
“On the development front, generative AI-based tools may evolve to being able to support patients and practitioners in navigating treatment algorithms and clinical trials. Ensuring that patient genetics, medical histories, and symptoms are weighed against all available clinical study data and real-world evidence could provide optimized, personalized treatment algorithms. Promising clinical trials could also be flagged on a personalized basis based on totality of evidence, including the mechanism of action of the investigational agent and the knowledge base around the relevant disease subtype. Management of privacy and consent will be critical to the integrity of these approaches.”
“We may not be far from a future where AI and ML can assist patients and physicians in predicting and managing health outcomes prior to disease inception, as well as in the early stages of disease. The ability to integrate massive real-world datasets with real-time health monitoring and diagnostics holds exciting potential. To really move the needle on human health, we need to develop and deliver medicines much closer to disease inception, when the biology is at its most malleable.”
Unique Patients Require Unique Medicines – with Audrey Greenberg, Founder and Officer, Center for Breakthrough Medicines
“There has been a whirlwind of change in the industry – and technology has been at the heart of this transformation. AI and ML have become essential tools, speeding up drug discovery, improving clinical trials, and tailoring treatments to individual patients. Plus, with a deeper understanding of our genes, we’re developing medicines that are as unique as the people who take them. Additionally, digital health tools are changing how we connect with patients and gather information.
“However, it’s more than technology. Rules and regulations within the pharma industry have also played a big role. We’ve seen faster approval processes for groundbreaking treatments, and those have been a game-changer. By expediting the development and commercialization of innovative therapies, regulatory changes have facilitated quicker patient access to life-changing treatments.
“I believe the future of drug discovery is marked by considerable promise, with AI poised to play an increasingly pivotal role. Advancements in AI, particularly in generative models, hold the potential to revolutionize the de novo design of therapeutic molecules. Moreover, the convergence of AI with vast datasets and profound insights into human genetics is propelling the field towards personalized medicine.
“Last, another area where technology is making a real difference is in finding new uses for old drugs. AI can analyze mountains of data to discover hidden potential in existing medicines. This could speed up the development of new treatments, lower costs, and help patients with rare diseases.”
