In the Pharmaceutical Industry, Ethics are Still More Valuable Than AI

AI has infiltrated seemingly every facet of business over the last year. The pharmaceutical industry is no different, and this technology’s rapid evolution can change drug development forever. However, the jury is out on whether AI will prove beneficial or detrimental. 

On the one hand, the use of AI holds immense potential to revolutionize drug development. It can optimize pricing models, improve access to life-saving treatments, and open up exciting new avenues. The ability to swiftly analyze medical datasets means that researchers can make faster connections between the effects of drugs on a population, potential harms, and edge cases that might otherwise go unnoticed. This potential is a cause for optimism in the industry. 

On the other hand, AI is not only imperfect, but many of its flaws aren’t immediately identifiable. Multiple stories of lawyers using AI, which have generated imaginary court cases, have shown how dependence on this technology without safeguards can lead to disaster. Exploiting patient data, depending on work stolen from others (used to train the AI), or manipulating analysis to create new barriers to healthcare is an additional consideration. 

Suppose AI is going to become an integral part of the pharmaceutical industry. In that case, the industry must embrace a holistic approach that treats ethics as the bedrock on which innovation is built. Unfortunately, too often, technology outpaces ethics, leading to the needs of patients being treated more as an afterthought for the sake of “disruption.” That’s not to say disruption is unimportant – the potential of AI opens doors for researchers that may not be possible any other way. Once the genie is out of the bottle, trying to tame it will take far more energy and threaten far more harm than if these guardrails are put in place now. 

Crucially, the industry must foster a culture of ethical stewardship, where every stakeholder — from researchers to executives — sees it as their duty to champion the responsible use of AI. This responsibility goes beyond mere box-ticking; it requires a deep, introspective examination of our own biases and blind spots and a genuine commitment to putting the well-being of the communities we serve first. This call to action should make stakeholders feel a sense of responsibility and commitment to the ethical use of AI.

As mentioned earlier, AI could revolutionize pricing models. Still, if these models aren’t transparent, fair, and aimed toward affordability and accessibility, this may only add to the perpetuation of existing disparities or even the introduction of new ones. It’s crucial that we align AI systems with the core mission of improving human health, not just maximizing profits or efficiency. This industry also needs to rebuild privacy from the ground up. The use of patient data to inform drug development and access decisions must be handled with the utmost care and respect. The public has voiced high skepticism around AI, and strict consent protocols and robust security measures will be crucial to building and maintaining public trust.

Robust governance frameworks that hold AI developers and deployers accountable for the real-world impacts of their creations are also necessary. Algorithmic bias has been shown to be a serious issue, and when health inequity is already a major concern, bias must be front of mind. The “move fast and break things” mentality has led to many successes. However, when dealing with something this powerful and unpredictable, plans should be deliberative and handled with care, ensuring that every step of the drug development process is scrutinized through a human lens. 

Investors are understandably eager to get in on the ground floor of this transformative technology, hoping this new generation of startups will disrupt the status quo. However, the ethical and regulatory minefield accompanying AI in this space means that investors must approach these opportunities with a keen understanding of the risk and a steadfast commitment to responsible deployment. Improving patient outcomes is the pharmaceutical industry’s ultimate objective and must remain the top priority. Otherwise, no amount of technological innovation will be able to advance the industry into the Age of AI.

Photo: metamorworks, Getty Images

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