"AI Drug Development: Bridging the Gap Between Awareness and Information Is Urgent"

AI New Drug Development Support Center Holds Industry-Hospital-Government Workshop

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] It has been diagnosed that the gap in perception and information between specialized fields must be reduced to promote AI-based new drug development.

According to the AI New Drug Development Support Center (AI Center) of the Korea Pharmaceutical and Bio-Pharma Manufacturers Association on the 22nd, the AI Center, together with the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Health Industry Development Institute, held the "Digital Transformation of the Pharmaceutical Bio Industry and AI Utilization New Drug Development Acceleration Industry-Hospital-Government Workshop" at Sono Belle Cheonan, Chungnam, on the 16th and 17th.

At the workshop attended by 60 people including pharmaceutical company researchers, AI developers, and government officials, subgroup discussions were held on the themes of ▲ obstacles and solutions in AI new drug development ▲ activation of industry-hospital-government collaboration ▲ derivation of successful cases of AI new drug development.

The participants unanimously agreed on the issue of reducing the gap in perception and information between AI developers and AI clients, stating that "a common understanding is needed that experts can supplement the results from AI to create synergy in collaboration." They also suggested that the problem of information asymmetry should be resolved by strengthening the capabilities of the AI Center, which acts as an intermediary between the two specialized fields.

Furthermore, regarding the activation of industry-hospital-government collaboration, there was consensus that the leading role of pharmaceutical companies and the catalytic role of the government are important. Considering the complex stages of new drug development and issues such as IP sharing, pharmaceutical companies should lead and manage projects proactively to facilitate smooth industry-hospital-government cooperative research.

In particular, concerning data, it was stated that "while the quantity and quality of data are important, there are limitations to using only public data; there are significant disparities in the quantity and quality of data by disease, and although data from large domestic hospitals are of high quality, access is difficult," calling for the relaxation of access restriction regulations.