What was the main topic on everyone's lips at #BioEurope2023 in Munich? You probably won’t be surprised it was…
AI 😉
Here are my main takeaways:
AI Everywhere.
From generative AI for biologics design to generative adversarial networks for drug discovery (great presentation by Michelle Chen of Insilico Medicine), to the design and monitoring of clinical trials, AI is set to rewrite the rules of the game in drug discovery and development.
But Not in Manufacturing.
It seems that the manufacturers of biologics are not capitalizing on the potential of AI. There were few - if any - mentions of using advanced data analytics to optimize, troubleshoot, and improve productivity when scaling up manufacturing. Could this be due to the tight regulatory environment? What is keeping manufacturing from innovating? This feels like a giant missed opportunity.
Data Harmonization Will Fuel the AI Revolution.
AI models are as good as the data they are trained on, and data has been a bottleneck due to lack of harmonization. It seems we are converging on the Allotrope Data Format, which is a vendor-, platform-, and technique-agnostic format adaptable for any laboratory technique to store data, contextual metadata, and ancillary files.
Discovery Platforms vs. Discovery Programs.
Platforms are reaching an age of maturity. Throughout the conference, the emphasis was on the platform game to dramatically increase the pace of discovery. Miguel Forte described the pace of acceleration in the development of novel iPSC-MSCs at Kiji Therapeutics as “exponential”, leveraging their internal product platforms.
Regulation Can’t Keep Pace.
Technology is evolving rapidly, and regulatory efforts need to keep pace. While the precautionary principle is essential to safeguard patient health, innovators and regulators need to find a balance between precaution and innovation. Currently, the EU is lagging behind APAC and the US in the number of cell and gene therapy (CGT) clinical trials, especially in late-stage trials.
The Future is Bright.
Indeed it is. The startup competition was a standout event, showcasing some of the most innovative ideas and solutions in the industry. A hearty congratulations to all participants for their dedication and creativity. A special mention goes to PannTheraPi, represented by Elsa Brillaud, the victors of the competition. Their groundbreaking work targets Pannexins-1 for the treatment of epilepsy and other neurological disorders.
