The pandemic has given a tangible example of the value of machine learning, a kind of computer programme that processes vast amounts of data quickly and spots trends that humans might miss. Technicians at UK-based BenevolentAI realised by running patients’ medical history and previous trial results through their algorithms that Baricitinib, an arthritis treatment, might also help Covid-19 sufferers.
Machine learning could help drugmakers develop new remedies, not just rebadge old ones. Take gene therapy, which involves tinkering with patients’ DNA to prevent diseases such as cancer. By analysing millions of potential patients’ genetic codes and medical history, an artificial intelligence programme could identify those most likely to benefit from a treatment. That could mean faster trials and more efficient drugs.Time is money in the pharmaceutical industry.