AI and Precision Medicine: Transforming Pharma Industry
Dr. Satish Wagh, Executive Chairman and Whole time Director, Supriya Lifescience Ltd., 0
The pharmaceutical industry is at a sea change compelled by technological advancement , rising healthcare needs, and changing regulatory ecology. More precisely, the active pharmaceutical ingredient sector , which forms the backbone for drug manufacturing, is subject to variation with growing demand and innovation . Firms in the industry must keep pace with such trends if sustained growth is to be realized in meeting the needs of this rapidly changing global market.
Some of the key changes happening over the last few years are the rising role of artificial intelligence and machine learning in drug discovery and development. AI-driven platforms accelerate early-stage drug discovery and give critical insights into clinical trial designs that raise the bar for new compounds. The pharmaceutical artificial Intelligence (AI) market is expected to reach USD 3.9 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 29.5%. Also, AI works on optimizing manufacturing processes, reducing costs, and enhancing operational efficiency on all fronts.
Also, big data and analytics are supposed to play a critical role, and the pharmaceutical analytical testing market is projected to rise from USD 8.98 billion in 2024 to USD 13.43 billion by 2029. All these show how important data is in triggering pharmaceutical innovation, hence making informed decisions during drug development and manufacturing processes.
While AI and machine learning(ML) change the way companies approach to research and development (R&D), it is the biologics and biosimilars that have almost revolutionised drug development. The name itself suggests that biologics are derived from living organisms and have tended to be more effective in treating diseases that were far more complex, such as cancer, auto-immune disorders, and rare genetic conditions. With patents on many biologic drugs expiring, biosimilars—nearly identical versions—are being brought to market, offering new, more affordable patient options.
The global biosimilars market is expected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate(CAGR) of 23.5% over the next five years, particularly in oncology and autoimmune disorders. This not only cuts healthcare costs but also creates competition that promotes further innovation. New biologics bring new demands for more complex active ingredients, more sophisticated manufacturing processes, and altogether faster speed-to-market for Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) manufacturers.
Precision medicine, another up-and-coming trend, involves modifying treatments for the individual patient based on his or her genetic profile—a concept fast moving toward the standard of care in areas of Oncology and rare diseases. The precision medicine market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 9.1% from 2024 to 2032, reaching USD 168.3 billion. AI is integral in making this possible, as the real introduction to this shift is—well, and truly more accurate, quicker analytics of complex genomic data. This trend of increasing demand for customised treatments opens opportunities for API manufacturers to develop niche APIs that meet the exact needs of personalized therapies.
Sustainability is another key consideration for pharmaceutical companies, including those in the API sector. With regulatory, customer, and stakeholder pressures on making greener manufacturing processes, companies are looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint and produce less waste. Many companies are incorporating single-use bioreactors and continuous manufacturing processes, which not only cut down on energy consumption but also ensure consistent product quality. Green chemistry involves the design of materials, processes, and products that reduce or eliminate the use and generation of toxic substances; in so doing, it sets the bar for API manufacture.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought various vulnerabilities in the global supply chains in the forefront, particularly in the pharmaceutical industry. One wrong thing going away in the pharma supply chain can quickly result in a shortage of needed drugs. Because of this, most of these companies are now striving to create more resilient supply chains by diversifying into multiple sources and investing in digital technologies such as blockchain to track and verify the authenticity of their products. Supply chain resilience is critical to API manufacturers for continued supply of high-quality ingredients.
Regulatory evolution is another factor that has a critical influence on the pharmaceutical and API sectors—the fast development of new therapies such as gene therapies and regenerative medicine gives rise to unique challenges for regulatory agencies like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These agencies therefore have to balance the requirement for innovation with patient safety, thus forcing companies to be able to work their way through complex regulatory landscapes. In this regard, companies will have to stay abreast of these changes if they are to bring newer products into the market efficiently. This involves, for active pharmaceutical ingredient producers, strict and complete compliance with the set regulatory standards, while being open to new standards that may come up.
Last but not least, the rising costs of research and development continue to be problematic for the pharmaceutical industry. The cost of developing new drugs, especially complex biologics and gene therapies, is rising, and companies should look for less expensive alternatives. AI and ML offer potentially enabling solutions by streamlining R&D processes and reducing the time-to-market for new drugs. Meanwhile, drug repurposing—that is, seeking new indications for one's drugs—is one of the ways sought by firms to defray some costs and make the most of their R&D investments.
In conclusion, the pharmaceutical and API sectors are targeted to see considerable growth and transformation in the coming years. The industry is changing fast, be it the adoption of AI in precision medicine, the expansion into emerging markets, or the shift toward sustainability. It is such trends that help companies like Supriya Lifescience stay competitive. We would be better placed for the challenges and opportunities that arise if we keep innovating, take good care of regulatory compliance, and invest in sustainable practices.
Supriya Lifescience remains committed to quality at global levels while leading from the front in sustainable and innovative practices that will shape the future of pharmaceuticals.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought various vulnerabilities in the global supply chains in the forefront, particularly in the pharmaceutical industry. One wrong thing going away in the pharma supply chain can quickly result in a shortage of needed drugs. Because of this, most of these companies are now striving to create more resilient supply chains by diversifying into multiple sources and investing in digital technologies such as blockchain to track and verify the authenticity of their products. Supply chain resilience is critical to API manufacturers for continued supply of high-quality ingredients.
While AI and machine learning(ML) change the way companies approach to research and development (R&D), it is the biologics and biosimilars that have almost revolutionised drug development.
Regulatory evolution is another factor that has a critical influence on the pharmaceutical and API sectors—the fast development of new therapies such as gene therapies and regenerative medicine gives rise to unique challenges for regulatory agencies like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These agencies therefore have to balance the requirement for innovation with patient safety, thus forcing companies to be able to work their way through complex regulatory landscapes. In this regard, companies will have to stay abreast of these changes if they are to bring newer products into the market efficiently. This involves, for active pharmaceutical ingredient producers, strict and complete compliance with the set regulatory standards, while being open to new standards that may come up.
Last but not least, the rising costs of research and development continue to be problematic for the pharmaceutical industry. The cost of developing new drugs, especially complex biologics and gene therapies, is rising, and companies should look for less expensive alternatives. AI and ML offer potentially enabling solutions by streamlining R&D processes and reducing the time-to-market for new drugs. Meanwhile, drug repurposing—that is, seeking new indications for one's drugs—is one of the ways sought by firms to defray some costs and make the most of their R&D investments.
In conclusion, the pharmaceutical and API sectors are targeted to see considerable growth and transformation in the coming years. The industry is changing fast, be it the adoption of AI in precision medicine, the expansion into emerging markets, or the shift toward sustainability. It is such trends that help companies like Supriya Lifescience stay competitive. We would be better placed for the challenges and opportunities that arise if we keep innovating, take good care of regulatory compliance, and invest in sustainable practices.
Supriya Lifescience remains committed to quality at global levels while leading from the front in sustainable and innovative practices that will shape the future of pharmaceuticals.