The pharmaceutical industry is experiencing a surge in AI-driven drug discovery. Key opinion leaders (KOLs) surveyed by GlobalData predict a significant rise in AI-designed drugs over the next decade. This prediction is supported by GlobalData's "AI in Drug Discovery 2024" report, which highlights the increasing use of AI algorithms and tools to enhance decision-making throughout the drug development pipeline.
A Boom in AI-Powered Drug Development
GlobalData's Drug Database reveals a substantial impact of AI: over 2,800 unique drugs from more than 700 companies have leveraged AI-based techniques in their discovery. This represents a diverse range of companies, from innovative startups like Standigm to established players such as Recursion Pharmaceuticals, offering AI-powered drug discovery services to larger pharmaceutical companies. Recursion Pharmaceuticals leads the way, with 89 AI-discovered drugs, followed by Cellix Bio (52), Healx (34), Insilico Medicine (33), and Biolexis Therapeutics (30).
Industry Confidence and Future Challenges
GlobalData's B2B survey (July 10, 2024 - August 22, 2024, 312 pharmaceutical professionals) reflects strong industry confidence, with 63% of respondents expressing belief in AI's transformative potential. However, George El-Helou, Strategic Intelligence Analyst at GlobalData, emphasizes that the full integration of AI into drug discovery will be a gradual process. While AI offers the promise of faster, more cost-effective drug development, high-quality data remains crucial for generating accurate and reliable results. The continued growth in AI-designed drugs depends on addressing data quality issues and improving the integration of AI into established workflows.
