This is Part 4 in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) series in healthcare. Previous articles provided a general introduction (Part 1), how clinicians are using AI (Part 2), and how health systems are using AI (part 3). In Part 4, I move into the area of drug development using AI; I’m using the word drug to refer to any medication developed and marketed by the industry. This area will see the most impact in healthcare over the next five years or earlier.
First, a short note. My experience in the pharmaceutical industry is more limited than in the provider side of healthcare. I have performed several small projects in back office operations, not discovery, development, regulations, or marketing. My knowledge comes from discussions with those in the industry and reading many books and journals over the past several years to help me better understand the industry. I’ve also used the very thing I’m writing about, AI, to expand my knowledge in this field. Please read this article with that in mind and feel free to offer corrections where appropriate. Be gentle. So, let’s dive in.
An Overview of the Industry
We have all taken drugs at some point in our lives, hopefully keeping on the right side of the law. Getting a medication to the point where it becomes safe to take involves a large amount of research and money. AI is transforming the pharmaceutical industry by improving drug discovery and delivery efficiency, accuracy, and speed. The following is a brief overview of bringing a medication to market and, more importantly, into your body.
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