Artificial intelligence (AI) is described as a highly data-driven technology. In the life sciences industry, it is often deployed in the R&D capacities to give valuable insights from loosely connected data. Although the adoption of AI in the life sciences industry is still in its early stages, early adopters are expected to benefit from it because it will enable them to build strategic technological skills for gaining a competitive edge.
Furthermore, AI technology is gradually making its way into the public through mobile healthcare applications. The smartphone application, such as Sensely, stands to be an outstanding illustration of the commercial success of such applications. This scenario may lead to a new area of artificial intelligence that is more suitable to be applied on mobile platforms. Although the penetration of AI for voice recognition and image processing is relatively high on mobile platforms, the life sciences sector is predicted to benefit significantly from the technology.
The influence of AI on medication development and personalized medicine is beneficial. Unlike mechanistic assumptions or predictive modeling, AI can logically create optimal drug combinations that are successful and based on genuine experimental evidence by efficiently analyzing small datasets that are particular to the disease of interest. In addition, machine learning and predictive analytics research are being conducted to tailor treatment to an individual's unique health history. Currently, the emphasis is on supervised learning, where clinicians can utilize genetic information and symptoms to narrow down diagnostic options or make an educated guess about a patient's risk, eventually leading to more effective preventive measures.
Many startups are also investing in creating applications that consider behavioral change. In addition, new cooperation between the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) and Infosys would integrate advanced machine learning technologies with advanced biocomputing and genomic applications to improve precision medicine and preventive care. The alliance intends to enhance the predictability of future disease treatment results.
Pharmaceutical companies are investing in artificial intelligence to improve disease target identification, chemical screening, medication design from scratch, and potency/toxicity predictions. Deep learning is ideally suited for drug development due to its unparalleled capacity to extract significant features from unprocessed raw data, regardless of the size of the data set. Consequently, this can be highly beneficial for identifying new disease targets, generating fresh leads, and predicting treatment outcomes.
AI can help expand the field of drug discovery by making predictions in newer fields of biology and chemistry. With limited data, AI can quickly identify pertinent information by extracting text from scientific articles and frequently establish connections between biomedical entities, such as drugs and proteins. In the case of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, 50 clinical trials conducted over the past two decades have shown negative results, leaving only two licensed medications on the market that have demonstrated relatively small advantages for patients. Hence, AI has the potential to drastically revolutionize drug discovery strategies by saving enterprises vast amounts of money.
North America is the most significant shareholder in the global artificial intelligence (AI) in life sciences market and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 26.6% during the forecast period. Almost all life science applications have a considerable demand for AI solutions, which has made the US the largest market. For applications in biotechnology, precision medicine, and drug development, there is a high need in the nation for AI solutions.
Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at a CAGR of 30.2%, generating USD 3,775 million during the forecast period. The biotechnology industry in China has seen double-digit growth, making it one of the countries with the quickest adoption rates. Additionally, significant businesses are concentrating on constructing a medication development facility in China to support market expansion.
The fastest-growing region is Europe, with Germany representing the biggest regional market for AI in the life sciences. The country has some of the best research facilities in the world, providing a suitable environment for the growth of clinical trials. According to Lymphoma Coalition, Germany recorded the highest number of clinical trials in 2018, at 120, closely followed by Italy, which conducted 119 trials. The German government is interested in the industry since it offers financial assistance for AI on a national level, including anticipated investments totaling EUR 3 billion by 2025. It also helps to employ technology advancement for the betterment of society and healthcare.