Department of Pharmaceutics, Kamalakshi Pandurangan College of Pharmacy, Ayyampalayam, Tiruvannamalai 60603, Tamilnadu, India.
The pharmaceutical sector has undergone substantial change as a result of the quick development of technology and artificial intelligence (AI). AI-powered technologies are transforming supply chain management, clinical trials, customized medicine, and drug discovery, resulting in lower costs and greater efficiency. Faster drug candidate selection, illness prediction modeling, and treatment plan optimization are made possible by machine learning algorithms, deep learning, and big data analytics. AI applications also improve accuracy and safety in pharmacovigilance, quality control, and medication production. Notwithstanding its potential, issues including data privacy, legal compliance, and moral dilemmas still exist. This paper examines the advantages, drawbacks, and potential applications of artificial intelligence in the pharmaceutical industry.
Numerous subjects pertaining to artificial intelligence (AI) in drug development are covered in the review. It also provides a brief overview of the latest developments in medication development that the pharmaceutical sector has made in collaboration with different AI. Every scientific fact has been influenced by technological and computing advancements. AI has emerged as a key element in every branch of science and technology, from basic engineering to medicine. AI has had a significant impact on healthcare and pharmaceutical chemistry.[1] Machine learning is often used to speed up and enhance drug design procedures. The convenience of using AI to find the target proteins further increases the success rate of the produced medication. Artificial Intelligence is used at every stage of the drug design process, reducing the cost and significantly reducing the health risks associated with preclinical research. Based on the machine learning process and enormous volumes of pharmaceutical data, artificial intelligence (AI) is a potent data mining approach. Beyond the creation of new drugs, AI is expediting clinical trials through better patient recruiting, real-time data monitoring, and trial outcome prediction. Digital health technologies improve pharmacovigilance by detecting bad medication reactions early, while AI-powered automation in drug manufacturing guarantees quality control and regulatory compliance.
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Fig 01: AI in drug discovery
Drug discovery is being revolutionized by artificial intelligence (AI), [2] which speeds up the process of finding new drug candidates, improves lead compounds, and lowers the overall time and expense of research and development. Conventional drug development methods are time-consuming and labor-intensive, frequently involving years of trial and error and substantial financial outlays. AI-driven methods, especially deep learning (DL) and machine learning (ML), are changing this environment by making it possible to virtually screen possible therapeutic compounds, do predictive modeling, and analyze data quickly.[3]
Precision medicine, another name for personalized medicine, uses artificial intelligence (AI) and sophisticated data analytics to customize medical care for each patient according to their lifestyle, genetics, and surroundings. Personalized medicine seeks to maximize therapeutic effectiveness while reducing side effects, in contrast to the conventional "one-size-fits-all" strategy. To determine the best treatment plans for every patient, AI-driven technologies such as machine learning and deep learning analyze enormous datasets including genomic sequencing, electronic medical records, and biomarker profiles.
In several medical domains, artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming disease diagnosis by improving precision, effectiveness, and early detection. Human knowledge is frequently used in traditional diagnostic techniques, which can be laborious and error- prone. In order to provide more accurate and timely diagnoses, AI-powered technologies such as machine learning (ML), deep learning (DL), and natural language processing (NLP) evaluate enormous volumes of medical data, including imaging scans, test results, and electronic health records (EHRs).[4]
Through the simplification of processes, cost reduction, and productivity enhancement at all phases of drug discovery, production, and supply chain management, artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming operational efficiency in the pharmaceutical sector. Pharmaceutical firms may increase overall efficiency and optimize processes by utilizing data-driven decision-making, predictive analytics, and AI-driven automation.
How does AI works:
Developing an AI system entails meticulously imitating human traits and abilities in a machine and leveraging its processing capacity to surpass our abilities. A thorough understanding of AI is necessary to comprehend its various sub-domains and how they might be used in various industry sectors.
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Fig 02: 3types of AI
Applications of AI in pharmaceuticals and drug delivery:
When an AI system is used to control operations like manufacturing or clinical trials, the effectiveness of long-term learning is frequently diminished after training. Despite the relatively recent adoption of Quality by Design (QbD) methodology, the pharmaceutical business has improved, and the most recent industry 4.0 [5] initiatives appear to depict a rapidly developing sector. It is therefore very likely that an early AI application will be implemented if it is created. Unlike other scientific disciplines, pharmaceutical sciences have the potential to delay the standardization and codification of data. Standardization and data collection are necessary for AI training to be successful in the former.
AI used:[6][7]
Here are a few instances of AI's application in data processing:
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Fig 03: Application of AI
AI in health care:
AI of next-generation 3D printed medicines:
AI and the pharmaceutical 3D printing (3DP) pipeline can collaborate. The traditional "one size fits all" approach to medicine needs to give way to the administration of customized drugs. Pharmaceutical 3DP [8] can provide personalized drugs in the clinic, but it currently requires the presence and expertise of certified 3DP professionals. None of the many common process optimization technologies, such as mechanistic modeling and finite element analysis (FEA), can fully optimize the many phases of pharmaceutical 3DP. On the other hand, machine learning can provide intelligent optimization at every stage of the production of 3DP pharmaceuticals. Eventually, this will remove the need for continuous expert input in the creation of 3DP [9] medications, lowering barriers to the clinical application of the technology.
Advantages and Disadvantages:[10][11]
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AI with nanotechnology:
AI's importance in the pharmaceutical industry, pharmaceutics, and drug delivery has increased as a result of current molecular commodities' longer production periods, higher costs, and decreased productivity. But even the creation of existing formulas is predicated on costly, time-consuming, and unpredictable research that is rife with errors. A new system called "computational pharmaceutics" is integrating big data, artificial intelligence, and multiscale modeling techniques into pharmaceutics, suggesting a substantial shift in the paradigm of medication delivery. [12][13][14] Over the past ten years, algorithms and processing power have grown exponentially, leading to the emergence of this system. Applying AI approaches to pharmaceutical product development includes tasks such as pre-formulation of physical and chemical properties, drug distribution, physical stability, in vitro-in vitro correlation, and activity prediction.
AI to predict new treatment:
AI advancements and a renewed interest in uncommon disease treatments. Currently, more than 350 million individuals worldwide suffer from more than 7000 rare diseases. Heal, a biotech business based in the United Kingdom, has secured $10 million in funding to develop new drugs for rare diseases. Another Swiss biotech company, Therachon, has received $60 million to develop drugs for rare genetic diseases.[15]
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Fig 04: Artificial intelligence in nanotechnology
Adoption of AI by the pharma industry:
Challenges that pharma company’s face when attempting to adopt AI includes:
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Fig 05: Challenges in AI
The pharmaceutical business is undergoing a transformation thanks to artificial intelligence (AI), but there are a number of issues that must be resolved before AI can be widely used. [21] These difficulties affect many phases of drug development, production, and patient care and involve technological, ethical, regulatory, and operational issues.
Because AI can analyze large volumes of data, find patterns, and make very accurate predictions, it is increasingly supporting human inference. Human inference is still essential for emotional intelligence, ethical decision-making, and contextual awareness, even though AI is superior at processing information rapidly and identifying correlations that humans cannot. Medical diagnostics, medication development, and customized treatment regimens are aided by AI-driven models; nonetheless, human experience is required for result interpretation, validation, and ethical application.[22]
The best strategy combines human inference with artificial intelligence (AI), with AI enhancing analytical skills and people contributing ethical oversight, critical thinking, and nuanced understanding-based decision-making. [23] Through this partnership, AI- driven innovations are guaranteed to be socially conscious and scientifically sound, producing more efficient and just results in industries like healthcare and pharmaceuticals, among others.
Through the automation of repetitive operations, drug discovery optimization, and manufacturing process simplification, artificial intelligence (AI) is dramatically increasing productivity in the pharmaceutical sector. Large datasets can be analyzed by AI-powered algorithms in a fraction of the time required by conventional techniques, speeding up research and cutting expenses. [24] AI-powered predictive models in drug development enhance candidate selection and boost clinical trial effectiveness. AI improves quality control, lowers waste, and guarantees regulatory compliance in production through real-time monitoring.
However, issues including data security, worker adaption, and regulatory compliance must be resolved for AI integration to be successful. AI is a potent instrument for increasing productivity and propelling developments in pharmaceutical research and healthcare delivery when used properly.
The pharmaceutical sector is changing as a result of investments in artificial intelligence (AI), which speeds up drug discovery, enhances clinical trials, and streamlines supply chain and manufacturing procedures. AI-driven solutions are receiving a lot of funding from venture capital firms and pharmaceutical corporations in an effort to increase productivity, cut expenses, and expedite the release of novel therapies. AI-powered drug discovery platforms save time and money compared to traditional R&D by assisting in the identification of potential molecules. [25]
CONCLUSION:
AI has shown promise in a number of drug research domains. AI can assist scientists with pharmaceutical development and delivery design, planning, quality management, maintenance, and quality control. It has the ability to improve productivity, offer helpful insights, and highlight fresh viewpoints in the pharmaceutical discovery process, but it is not a magic bullet and won't cause drastic improvements right away. Currently, pharmaceutical businesses are going through a radical change as a result of the careful management of risk in the creation of new science and practices. AI's ability to integrate numerous novel and unfamiliar fields will determine how successful it is in the cutting- edge medication research and development process. This field includes digital consulting, diabetes treatment, medication discovery, data management, and other applications of AI. There is strong evidence that medical AI can significantly improve the way both physicians and patients provide healthcare in the twenty-first century.
REFERENCES
K. Manimaran*, J. Naveenkumar, R. V. Sivaprakash, Emerging of Artificial Intelligence and Technology in Pharmaceuticals: Review, Int. J. of Pharm. Sci., 2025, Vol 3, Issue 3, 85-92. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14956544