The pharmaceuticals industry is an integral part of medical science. There are no treatments without medicines. They’re expensive, thanks to the intricacy and expertise needed in the manufacturing process. In the older times, the design and manufacturing of drugs needed lots of effort. The process was also very lengthy and expensive. There was a lot of room for human error.
Therefore, the introduction of technology is a blessing in the field. Not only manufacture, but it has also influenced the studying and testing as well. There’s a boom in medicine manufacture which also creates competition in the field.
As the pharmaceutical industry progressed there are many ways in which companies promote their medicines. The gifting system between physicians and medicine companies is common. Industry gifts are not like general ones bought from gift shops. They may influence the decision of physicians in favor of certain drugs.
Let’s understand what technologies have positively influenced the production, testing, and study of medicines. Here are the latest technologies that influence pharmaceuticals:
Artificial Intelligence ( AI) & Machine learning ( ML)
As everything needs to be done at a very high pace. Humans were not able to meet the pace. Artificial intelligence was introduced in the pharmaceutical industry to perform the task at a high pace with the use of automated algorithms. AI has brought a magnificent change in the industry. The process of manufacturing drugs and the treatment process is changed. Machine learning technologies are also used widely in the pharmaceuticals industries.
The data collected from satellites and other sources are used to predict any epidemic outbreaks. Machine learning has many usages in direct clinical trial research. It uses advanced predictive analytics to identify the potential candidates for clinical trials. Machine Learning also helps in drug discovery at the initial stages from the initial screening of drug compounds. These drug compounds are used to predict the success rate of the drugs.
In Silico Trials
This is the new technology introduced in the pharma industry. The trials of any medicine were performed on animals or human beings. The lives of both were hampered due to medical trials. To stop these Silico Trials were developed. Drug experiments are now done on simulation model drug testing. Using these models will not affect anyone’s life. It will also help in saving resources like money and time.
These are performed in 4 phases :
- The range of dose is decided.
- The drug is tested on the model for its side effects
- The drugs are tested again on the model to find out the efficiency
- All the surveillance is done before posting it in the market.
Individual phases in a clinical trial are a very important part of a drug. These ensure the safety and effectiveness of new drugs. The treatments are properly assessed before releasing them for public use.
Blockchain
In simple words, blockchain technology is a process that records information in a way that makes it impossible to change or hack. A blockchain provides duplication and is distributed across various networks. It is used to access medical records of patients, doctors, and other clinical trial information. It also helps in drug pricing strategy and tracking.
3D Printing
3D technology has become the most advanced and powerful tool. It is an additive manufacturing method. An object is created by the software. The 3D machine creates layers above layers of materials to make the shape of the object formed by the software.
The benefits of making such drugs as it saves manufacturing costs. There are 3 types of 3D printers.
- Stereolithography (SLA)
- Selective laser sintering (SLS)
- Fused Deposition Modeling(FDM)
Precision Medicine
This is the newest approach in medicine. In this process, the DNA of the person is analyzed. According to the DNA, suitable medicine and treatment are given to the patients. This is different from the older method as older techniques aim to treat symptoms. Precision medicine aims at treating the disease from its root cause.
Big Data and Analytics
When a drug trial needs to take place, few volunteers are selected. Big data helps businesses to select the volunteer-based on the data collected from different sources. This helps pharma companies to develop more useful and needed medicine. This also helps the companies to optimize and improve the trials. Eventually, it minimizes the risk after the launch of the drug.
These were some important changes in the pharmaceutical industry, driven by tech innovations. These have created a massive impact on pharmaceutical companies. People nowadays are safer and can get fast and appropriate treatment when needed. This is only because of technological evolution.
