A survey conducted by ICON has found sentiment towards artificial intelligence (AI) and digital tools in the clinical research sector is positive, with 49% of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies employing AI and Big Data in their programs. This represents a 10% increase from the number recorded in ICON’s 2019 survey.
ICON has published the results in its new whitepaper –Digital disruption: Surveying the industry’s evolving landscape – looking to understand the trajectory of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital research within the clinical research field.
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A total of 101 responses from biotech and pharmaceutical professionals across Europe and North America were considered.
The report described the uptake of AI and digital tools as ‘slow and steady’ in clinical research, but noted that the overall sentiment towards digital tools and AI was positive.
Considering use cases the report states that “creating more predictive models that may reduce the size and timeframe required for clinical trials and identifying biomarkers for predicting patient populations are seen, potentially, as the area to gain the greatest value from AI or big data analytics.”
It also noted that respondents demonstrated particular optimism towards the potential of digital technologies in the R&D space, with 82% agreeing that adoption could improve return on R&D investments.
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By GlobalDataThere has been an increase in investment too. ICON reports that since 2019, the average total investment increase in digital tools was estimated to be around 34%. ICON also identified that 88% of respondents expect their organisation to increase investment in the next one or two years.
Researchers also found that 76% believed digital tools would improve product safety and efficacy and that 76% believed they would support manufacturers’ ability to compete in targeted medicine markets.
However, they also identified a series of obstacles to broader digital adoption, including concerns around patient safety, data integrity, and regulatory compliance.
Chief information officer at ICON Tom O’Leary commented that “Over the last five years the life sciences industry has gained a greater appreciation of the level of investment required to capitalise on the potential of AI and digital tools. Digital innovation in clinical research can support more efficient and less burdensome trials. But in order to fully realise the productivity gains, companies must embrace what these tools can offer at a broad level, as opposed to one-off applications.”
Currently, new digital technologies are most often employed in single development programs; 70% of respondents reported that their focus was on either piloting or selectively using AI in clinical development. Only 13% said they have a comprehensive AI program fully implemented.
However, the whitepaper also noted a shift in expectations around the timescale of AI implementation, as businesses reach more realistic understandings of the investment, time and expertise involved in successful adoption of the technology.
Considering what the findings mean for the clinical research sector, Tom O’Leary commented that “Comprehensive and strategic approaches are required to navigate complexity and maximise digital technologies in R&D, despite some organisations’ understandable hesitations due to potential risks. Watching and waiting whilst others test, assess and refine is a safe bet, but it slows the overall pace of digital innovation.
“Tools designed specifically for clinical trials are better placed to address the unique challenges and regulatory demands. With an understanding of these complexities, in addition to the required investment and approaches, the benefits of AI and digital tools in R&D can be realised sooner.”
The total AI market, including software, hardware, and services, will be worth over $1 trn by 2030, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 39.1% from $103 bn in 2023. This is according to GlobalData’s 2024 AI in Healthcare report, which notes that specialized applications category is currently the largest market segment, but that AI platforms are the fastest-growing.
GlobalData is the parent company of Clinical Trials Arena.
