Transformations in Digital Healthcare
New technology is empowering pharma and biotech companies to accelerate R&D
New partnerships are creating a fundamental shift in the pharmaceutical industry. “The previous efforts using AI and machine learning in drug development and genome mapping are evolving, with the next step being the creation and use of virtual evidence,” said Doug Koeneman, ASG principal and senior consultant.
Here’s a recent example: InSilicoTrials, a health tech company that uses AI and simulations to develop drugs and medical devices, has recently joined Microsoft for Startups Pegasus Program. This program is designed for startups with substantial promise in fields like AI, healthcare and cybersecurity.
In silico trials are computer-based simulations of how a drug or medical device impacts a patient or a population. They use computational models to mimic the effects of a treatment or intervention, allowing researchers to test hypotheses and optimize trial design before actual human or animal testing. This approach can help accelerate the development process and potentially reduce the cost and time associated with traditional clinical trials.
“InSilicoTrials is focused on expanding access to simulation and AI tools that help life sciences organizations de-risk faster development of safer, more effective treatments,” said Luca Emili, CEO at InSilicoTrials. “Joining the Microsoft for Startups Pegasus Program allows us to scale our reach, enhance our integration with Microsoft Azure, and bring the benefits of in silico trials to more customers worldwide.”
InSilicoTrials will use Microsoft’s cloud, Azure, and AI infrastructure to enhance its digital simulation platform — including digital twins, virtual patient models, synthetic data and AI-driven clinical trial design. This will facilitate access to advanced simulation tools for pharmaceutical and biotech companies, in turn potentially accelerating drug R&D.
“We saw this coming, and investment is starting to flow,” Koeneman said. ASG is looking forward to exploring more of these tools to serve our clients better and help get devices to market faster.
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