AI-created drugs fall off hype cycle

Biotech companies and drugmakers are shelving their AI-designed therapeutics after a series of clinical setbacks, Endpoints News reported Oct. 19. 

Advertisement

In 2020, U.K.-based Ex­sci­en­tia and its partner, Japan-based Sum­it­o­mo Pharma, announced the first AI-created drug would enter a phase 1 trial for obsessive-compulsive disorder. Two years later, Sum­it­o­mo ended the research because the drug failed to meet study criteria. 

In the last three and a half years, two other companies have started and ended clinical trials for drug candidates made by AI, according to Endpoints News. A bandwagon of AI hype formed when the research was made public, but the trend seems to be turning into a fad after the three companies worked for about a decade to research and develop these therapies. 

In the biotech industry, only about 5% to 10% of medications tested in human trials make it to the market. The fanfare for AI-fashioned drugs couldn’t make this low statistic budge. 

“If you take the hype and PR at face val­ue over the last 10 years, you would think it goes from 5% to 90%,” Patrick Mal­one, MD, PhD, a prin­ci­pal at science investment firm KdT Ven­tures, told Endpoints News. “But if you know how these mod­els work, it goes from 5% to maybe 6% or 7%.”

At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.

Register to Attend Webinar

The Performance Gap Your Pharmacy Training Metrics Can’t See

Monday, August 10
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM CDT

Presenters: Michael Alexander, AudirieDr. Tina Moen, PharmD, Colibri Healthcare

Advertisement

Next Up in Pharmacy

Advertisement

Comments are closed.