If something distinguishes the pharmaceutical industry, it is its ability to continuously research and innovate, applying new cutting-edge technologies in order to achieve the greatest benefit for the patient’s health.
Recently, a lot has been discovered on the applications of the so-called Big Data in the pharmaceutical industry and in research in general. Therefore, to assess the point of the development we are in, we want to analyze in these lines various aspects of Big Data, the Next Big Thing in the pharmaceutical sector.
The Applications Of Big Data To Research In The Pharmaceutical Industry
The main application: Develop personalized therapies based on the genome of each patient.
With the technique described above, it is possible to determine which molecules interact better with the patient based on their genome. In Oncology, specifically, work is already being done in this type of application. We have the genome of more and more types of tumours so that in the near future, we can develop personalized drugs aimed at eradicating a specific type of tumour that a specific patient has. Here, Big Data will play a fundamental role for researchers, targeting the molecules with the greatest chance of successful treatment.
The parallel and systematic collection of real-world data will facilitate the early introduction of medicines, so the Big Data analysis will be an ideal complement to more traditional research.
Data-driven development can revolutionize the implementation of new products in terms of speed and quality. Processes based on big data and artificial intelligence (AI) are key factors for this transformation.
The use of real-world data will be very useful (more in the short term) for laboratories in post-authorization studies, allowing to verify countless important data such as adherence to treatments, the effects on the patient’s daily life through measures of Real-time vital signs, or even the interaction of the drug with diet and other social habits. It is about providing more data for many more patients (compared to those obtained from the 4% participating in clinical trials).
In conclusion, when we talk about Big Data, we are facing the future development of personalized drugs and great advances in our knowledge about different diseases. The cost and time savings will undoubtedly encourage innovation and all this will result in an increase in the quality and effectiveness of treatments, and therefore in the population’s health levels. Pharmaceutical companies must also be able to react to dynamically developing situations. Thanks to healthcare analytics, disease patterns worldwide can be recognized faster and the emergency development of new medicines can be accelerated. But a coin always has two sides, so our rights must be guaranteed. The road is marked, you just have to continue adding efforts to it.