Dr. Cohen Solal, a neuroscientist, is the CEO and co-founder of Genetika+, an Israeli health-tech company. Founded in 2018, the company claims that its technology can match antidepressants to patients more effectively, reducing side effects and ensuring optimal drug efficacy.
Dr. Cohen Solal also mentions that their technology can personalize the medication for each patient from the very beginning. Genetika+ achieves this by combining stem cell technology with artificial intelligence software. By taking a patient's blood sample, the company generates brain cells which are then tested with various antidepressants to determine biomarkers, or cellular changes. This information, along with a patient's medical and genetic data, is analyzed by the AI system to determine the most suitable drug and dosage for the doctor to prescribe. While the technology is still in development, Genetika+ plans to release it commercially in 2023.
Genetika+ is one of the examples of how AI is increasingly being employed in the pharmaceutical sector. It has received funding from the European Union's European Research Council and European Innovation Council, and is collaborating with pharmaceutical companies to develop new precision drugs. The company anticipates that its technology will be highly sought after in the future, given that the World Health Organization estimates that over 280 million people worldwide suffer from depression. While antidepressants are not always the appropriate treatment, nearly two-thirds of initial prescriptions for depression or anxiety are thought to be ineffective.
Dr. Cohen Solal believes that the latest developments in computer technology and biological technology are perfectly timed to be combined, saying, "We are in the right time."
Dr. Heba Sailem, Senior Lecturer of Biomedical AI and Data Science at King's College London, also acknowledges the significant potential of AI to transform the global pharmaceutical industry, which generated $1.4tn (£1.1tn) in revenue in 2021. AI has already helped with identifying potential target genes for treating certain diseases, discovering new drugs, predicting the best treatment strategy for patients, discovering biomarkers for personalized patient treatment, and even preventing diseases through early detection of signs of occurrence.
Calum Chace, who is an expert in AI, says that the adoption of AI technology within the pharmaceutical sector is progressing slowly. According to Mr Chace, who has authored several books on AI, the challenge lies in the fact that pharmaceutical companies are vast, and any significant change in their research and development processes will have an impact on many people in different divisions. Senior individuals in the industry have achieved their positions through traditional methods, which they are familiar with, trust and are reluctant to change. They may also be concerned that their skills and knowledge could become less valuable to the company if they have to adopt a new approach.
Dr. Sailem warns that the pharmaceutical industry should not rush into using AI and must take precautions to avoid biases and ensure the accuracy of the predictions. She cautions that an AI model can produce the right result for the wrong reasons, and it is the responsibility of researchers and developers to employ various measures to avoid biases, especially when trained on patients' data. Meanwhile, Hong Kong-based Insilico Medicine is using AI to speed up drug discovery. Its AI platform can identify existing drugs that can be repurposed, design new drugs for known disease targets, or find brand new targets and design new molecules, according to co-founder and CEO Alex Zhavoronkov.
Dr. Cohen Solal, based in Israel, believes that AI has the potential to "unravel the mystery" of which drugs are effective. He explains that Genetika+ uses AI and stem cell technology to match the right antidepressant to patients, helping to avoid adverse side effects and ensure the drug works effectively. Genetika+ has secured funding from the European Union's European Research Council and European Innovation Council and is also partnering with pharmaceutical firms to develop new precision drugs. While AI has the potential to transform the pharmaceutical industry, it remains a slow process due to the size and complexity of pharma companies, according to AI expert Calum Chace. Insilico Medicine, based in Hong Kong, is another example of a company using AI to accelerate drug discovery, with a treatment for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis being clinically trialed, and 31 other drugs in development. Despite these advancements, Dr. Heba Sailem warns that strict measures should be employed before relying on AI predictions to avoid biases, especially when trained on patients' data.