The Adoption and Use of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Clinical Development

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in drug discovery has been well documented, but measures of levels of adoption, investments, and efficiencies gained from its use in clinical development have not yet been developed, captured or published. AI/ML use in clinical development is expected to increase, but its impact has not yet been systematically measured until now.

The Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development conducted a global online survey among pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, contract research organizations (CROs), and data and technology vendors servicing drug developers. The survey gathered 302 responses assessing levels of AI/ML implementation across 36 distinct clinical trial planning and design, trial execution, and regulatory submission activities. The survey collected data on US dollar investment, time savings, and challenges and opportunities of AI/ML use in clinical development.

Approximately one-third of the sample (36.9%) was not yet using or implementing AI/ML across 36 design and planning, execution, and regulatory submission activities; another 30.3% was beginning their AI/ML implementation (or piloting), 22.1% was partially implementing (or moving beyond pilots), and on average only 10.7% had fully implemented AI/ML (i.e., uses AI in most trials employing a repeatable process).