Artificial Intelligence in Drug Discovery and Development

Abstract

The recent growth of machine learning applications using artificial intelligence (AI), ranging from drug discovery to improvements in patient care, has coincided with increased investments from pharmaceutical and technology companies. Subsequently, there has been a sharp increase in the number of start-ups in this space along with heightened expectations regarding the implications of AI in the health care industry. Given the strict regulations pertaining to drug development and commercial marketing, there are questions as to whether AI can operate within the contours of existing laws or would require novel legal frameworks. This article makes an effort to address those emerging questions. INTRODUCTON Technological advances in data capture and storage across all major industries have generated a wealth of digital information. Concurrent to the rapid digitization of data, there have been significant breakthroughs in the realm of artificial intelligence (AI) as it relates to machine learning. Industry leaders continue to push for adoption of machine learning within their organizations, leading to a demand for the development of products that improve upon existing processes and render valuable services. The advent of electronic patient health records, biomedical research breakthroughs and precision medicine initiatives have ushered the health care industry into the era of "big data" and it is poised for using AI involving machine learning to harness its potential. Recognizing this trajectory, technology companies have steadily incorporated health care verticals into their business models and investors have followed suit by backing a number of AI start-ups. The perspective written here, of an in-house counsel at a health care company, outlines the types of data sets available within the industry as well as opportunities and challenges of putting these data sets to practical use 2. It should be noted that the impact of AI across State of AI 2018-Artificial Intelligence reshaping industries and economies. CB Insights. (visited Apr. 2, 2018).