Johnson & Johnson Uses AI to Increase Diversity in Clinical Trials
Pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson (J&J) is leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to improve the diversity of participants in clinical trials. By using AI, J&J aims to develop treatments that are more effective for marginalized communities.
J&J’s Approach: Creating a Heatmap and Increasing Participation
J&J’s AI technology generates a heatmap that identifies clinics frequented by black individuals, allowing them to recruit more diverse patients for clinical trials. Previously, disadvantaged communities were excluded from trials due to financial constraints and distance, hindering the development of inclusive medications.
The use of AI has already increased the participation of black cancer patients by 5.2%, and J&J plans to expand this approach to 50 trials initially, followed by 100 trials in 2024.
Importance of Diversity in Clinical Trials
Clinical trials that fail to test effectiveness across different genders, races, and age groups can perpetuate health disparities and reduce the efficacy of medicines. To ensure equitable treatments, big pharmaceutical companies often rely on established academic medical centers with less diverse populations.
In 2020, approximately 75% of participants in approved drug trials were white, while Hispanic and Black participants accounted for only 11% and 8%, respectively.
AI’s Success in Clinical Trials
While larger pharmaceutical companies like J&J are utilizing AI to enhance diversity, smaller biotech firms are exploring different applications. For example, Inceptive is testing whether AI can aid in the development of mRNA vaccines similar to the COVID-19 shot.
However, despite its potential, AI has yet to produce a drug with proven real-world effectiveness since Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine. The effectiveness of AI models depends on researchers’ data-handling practices, as highlighted by Scientific American in 2022.
Looking Ahead: AI as a Tool
Scientific American recommends involving patients and the US Federal Drug Administration in the development of clinically-used AI models. Companies like Exscientia have also tempered their expectations of AI’s capabilities.
Exscientia CEO Professor Andrew Hopkins emphasized the need for deep scientific expertise and acknowledged that AI is merely a tool. Todd Rudo, Chief Medical Officer at Clario, echoed this sentiment, stating that AI is not a magic bullet but rather a methodology.
Hot Take: Leveraging AI for More Inclusive Clinical Trials
J&J’s use of AI to increase diversity in clinical trials is a significant step toward developing more effective treatments for marginalized communities. By identifying clinics frequented by black individuals through heatmaps, J&J has already seen an increase in participation among black cancer patients.
This approach has the potential to address health disparities and enhance the efficacy of medicines. While challenges remain in ensuring the real-world effectiveness of AI-generated drugs, involving patients and regulatory bodies in the development process can contribute to more reliable outcomes.
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