Tech is transforming the pharma industry, speeding drug discovery and personalizing medicine
It's all about AI, and much more. Get ready for the next waves of disruptive technologies (Issue #333, 1,371 words, 6.5 minutes)
Good morning, and welcome to the NPC Healthbiz Weekly e-newsletter from the National Pharmaceutical Congress and Chronicle Companies.
The global pharmaceutical industry is undergoing a profound transformation as artificial intelligence and cutting-edge technologies redefine how drugs are discovered, developed, and delivered to patients. By the end of the decade, experts predict that AI-driven innovation will dramatically shorten development timelines, lower costs, and usher in a new era of precision medicine tailored to individual patient needs.
By 2030, AI-driven drug discovery, personalized medicine, and advanced biologics are expected to transform the way research, development, and commercialization are conducted in the life sciences. These advances are expected to shorten development timelines, reduce costs, and support the creation of therapies targeted to specific patient needs.
According to a World Economic Forum report, analysts predict that 2025 might be a pivotal year for progress in the pharmaceutical industry. By the end of 2025, AI is projected to drive 30% of new drug discoveries, slashing preclinical costs by 25 to 50% and enabling faster resource reallocation. A study from Research and Markets notes that industry leaders, including IBM Watson Health, Google DeepMind, NVIDIA, Pfizer, Novartis, Roche, and AstraZeneca, are integrating AI into target identification, hit-to-lead optimization, and literature mining.
Patent PC reports that by 2030, the AI drug discovery market will exceed US$20 billion, with algorithms analyzing billions of compounds and predicting interactions before human trials. Furthermore, advancements in genomics and AI-driven patient profiling are expected to propel the personalized medicine market beyond US$950 billion by 2030. The publication writes that treatments tailored to individual genetic biomarkers will replace one-size-fits-all approaches, particularly in oncology.
According to the website StartUs Insights, blockchain-secured decentralized trials will become mainstream, leveraging telehealth and wearable sensors to capture 90% of trial data remotely by 2030. The publication highlights U.S.-based startup BEKhealth, which uses natural language processing tools to analyze both structured and unstructured data from electronic medical records. Similarly, U.S.-based PhaseV Trials utilize machine learning and advanced statistical methods, including reinforcement learning and causal inference, to dynamically optimize trial design in real-time. These innovations aim to reduce average trial costs.
The nanomedicine and 3D bioprinting markets are also expected to transform the industry by 2030. Patent PC notes that the 3D bioprinting industry is projected to hit US$5 billion, revolutionizing drug development, organ regeneration, and personalized medicine. At the same time, the nanomedicine market is expected to surpass US$150 billion by 2030, with nanoparticle-based therapies enhancing bioavailability and reducing systemic toxicity in cancer treatments.
THIS WEEK 06/10/25
The U.S. FDA approved Moderna’s mRNA-1283 (mNEXSPIKE), a new vaccine against Covid-19, for use in patients 65 years of age and older, as well as individuals aged 12 to 64 years with at least one underlying risk factor.
GSK is investing $300,000 to help launch the Pharmacy Innovation in Immunization Research Collaborative at the University of Waterloo (Ont.) School of Pharmacy. This initiative aims to expand the role of pharmacies in Canada's immunization landscape and improve equitable access to vaccines nationwide.
The U.S. FDA approved Eton Pharmaceuticals’ hydrocortisone oral solution (Khindivi) as a replacement therapy in pediatric patients with adrenocortical insufficiency who are at least five years of age.
Health Canada has issued Cepheid a medical device licence for the Xpert HIV-1 Viral Load XC, a next-generation extended-coverage test designed to aid in assessing HIV viral load levels, which are used to monitor the effectiveness of antiretroviral treatment.
NOW, LISTEN UP: HERE’S BETTINA HAMELIN OF INNOVATIVE MEDICINES CANADA
In Season 14 of the NPC Podcast, Dr. Bettina Hamelin, President of Innovative Medicines Canada, offers insights into adopting innovative technologies, the domestic pharmaceutical supply chain, and the exclusion of medicines as retaliatory measures for tariffs. Hear her in conversation with podcast hosts Mitch Shannon, Jim Shea, and Mark McElwain.
HEALTHBIZ REWIND
This feature of NPC Healthbiz Weekly looks back at some of the most insightful moments from previous NPC Podcast episodes. You can listen to the podcast here.
Durhane Wong-Rieger
President & CEO
Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders
Season 01, episode 01
Listen to this episode here
What advice would you give the pharma teams listening to the podcast about working with patient groups? (This episode was recorded in July of 2020)
We should continue to do the one thing that has always worked: start with the patient. This approach has been successful for companies that have truly committed to it, and it’s become increasingly important over time. In the rare disease space, patients often find researchers and raise enough money to attract interest from companies. They’ve always been at the centre of it. The most successful companies genuinely start with patients, partner with them, truly understand their needs, and adapt, not just in clinical trials but in the product itself.
Continuing to work closely with patients has been invaluable, not just in delivering therapy but in every aspect of the process. In the rare disease space, when a large company acquires a smaller one, we often fear losing the personal connections that smaller companies have built with the patient community over time. These connections aren’t just about selling a product; they’re about relationships—companies knowing these people, living with them, becoming like friends and family.
That’s what we need to maintain, starting with the patients. What I’d love to see the industry do, especially in rare diseases, is think about global access. Companies have traditionally priced drugs based on the assumption that they’ll only reach a small percentage of the appropriate patients. But what if we could give them access to the entire world? How would pricing change if we had 20,000 patients globally and could make the drug available to everyone? This requires investment, starting with the patients. We do this well in the developed world, where clinics already exist, but we must invest in places where they don’t.
Successful rare disease clinics exist in countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, China, and parts of Africa because companies have stepped in to help build them from the ground up. This is a strategy that can be replicated. As we develop new therapies, we must think about global access and invest in regions that need it most. Some of the latest therapies, like gene therapies, are most needed in areas with the least resources. We need to ensure these treatments are available globally. As countries come together to provide the Covid-19 vaccine worldwide, we need to do the same with new drugs and therapies.
Register today for tomorrow’s NPC Spring Webinar
The NPC Spring Webinar is part of an engaging webinar series that complements the National Pharmaceutical Congress.
This year's theme is “Points of Light in Pharma: Reasons for Optimism in Uncertain Times.”
In a time of political shifts, tariff uncertainty and global pressure, the Canadian life sciences sector continues to find reasons for optimism. From breakthroughs in gene therapy manufacturing to emerging collaborative frameworks, innovation is moving forward.
Join us for the NPC Spring Webinar 2025, featuring Dr. Jason Field from Life Sciences Ontario, Dr. Greg Patey of Blue Charm Adherence, and other speakers to be announced, as they share insights on how collaboration and resilience are shaping the future of pharma in Canada. The moderators are Ben Parry of Pangaea Group and Mitch Shannon of Chronicle Companies.
Date: June 11, 2025
Time: 11 AM to 12 PM ET
Location: Virtual (Zoom)
Cost: Free of charge
Click here to register:
https://lnkd.in/ggQ7jviu
The NPC Spring Webinar is part of an engaging webinar series that complements the National Pharmaceutical Congress.
This year's theme is “Points of Light in Pharma: Reasons for Optimism in Uncertain Times.”
In a time of political shifts, tariff uncertainty and global pressure, the Canadian life sciences sector continues to find reasons for optimism. From breakthroughs in gene therapy manufacturing to emerging collaborative frameworks, innovation is moving forward.
Join us for the NPC Spring Webinar 2025, featuring Jason Field from Life Sciences Ontario and other speakers to be announced, as they share insights on how collaboration and resilience are shaping the future of pharma in Canada.
Date: June 11, 2025
Time: 11 AM to 12 PM ET
Location: Virtual (Zoom)
Cost: Free of charge
Click here to register:
https://lnkd.in/ggQ7jviu
What to Expect
* Gain insights from leaders driving innovation and progress in life sciences.
* Discover where the momentum is building and why it matters.
* Explore how policy shifts and collaboration are influencing the future of pharma in Canada.
* Gain insights from leaders driving innovation and progress in life sciences.
* Discover where the momentum is building and why it matters.
* Explore how policy shifts and collaboration are influencing the future of pharma in Canada.
NEXT WEEK
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