AI is also being used to reduce the number of participants needed for clinical trials. For example, Bayer used AI to cut the number of participants needed by several thousand for a late-stage trial for an experimental drug. The company is now planning to use real-world patient data to generate an external control arm for a study, potentially eliminating the need for patients taking a placebo. However, some scientists are concerned that drug companies will try to use AI to come up with external arms for a broader range of diseases, which could overestimate the success of a drug.
Key takeaways:
- Major pharmaceutical companies are increasingly using artificial intelligence to expedite patient recruitment for clinical trials, potentially saving time and money in drug development.
- AI tools like Amgen's ATOMIC are being used to scan large amounts of data to identify potential trial participants, significantly reducing the time it takes to enroll patients.
- German drugmaker Bayer has used AI to reduce the number of participants needed for a late-stage trial, saving millions of dollars and several months of recruitment time.
- Despite the potential benefits, there are concerns about the use of AI in creating external control arms for trials, with some scientists warning it could lead to overestimation of a drug's success.