Collaboration will implement modelling and evidence generation to evaluate the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in clinical development and accelerate medicine access.
Boehringer Ingelheim and Microsoft have agreed to partner to advance AI-backed clinical development.
As a patient-centric collaboration, the joint venture will involve assessing the potential of digital patient twins. The goal is to reduce the number of participants required in control groups, boost the creation of clinical evidence and enhance clinical trial design.
Agnes Heftberger, Corporate Vice President and CEO of Microsoft Germany and Austria, noted that “the collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim brings together pharmaceutical and scientific expertise with Microsoft’s capabilities in AI and engineering.”
Specifically, Boehringer and Microsoft plan use modeling, prototyping and evidence generation to evaluate the scientific and technical feasibility of AI in clinical development. Lung health is the first disease area that will be investigated. Additionally, the partnership will explore advanced trial simulation, including whether these approaches could support synthetic or hybrid control arms.
Exploring AI-enabled approaches, including the future potential of digital patient twins, could support more patient-centric, informed and efficient clinical research”
Dr Lykke Hinsch Gylvin, Chief Medical Officer at Boehringer Ingelheim
Dr Lykke Hinsch Gylvin, Chief Medical Officer at Boehringer Ingelheim, explained the company aims “…to make clinical research more responsive to patients’ unmet needs. Exploring AI-enabled approaches, including the future potential of Digital Patient Twins, could support more patient-centric, informed and efficient clinical research.”
Moreover, the initiative will also address modernising Boehringer’s data centre and security to support future innovation enabled by AI.
If successful, the collaboration will boost the efficiency of drug development and enable patients to gain faster access to innovative medicines.
Regulatory efforts this year have included supporting innovation through AI. In June, the MHRA launched a new AI initiative to enhance medicine safety. UK Health Innovation Minister, Preet Gill explained the sandbox offers companies and researchers “a safe space to test these tools alongside regulators, we can build the evidence base needed to get safer, more effective treatments to patients faster.”
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