Impact of Modern Technology on the Indian Life Sciences Sector

Rashmi Pimpale, CEO, Research and Innovation Circle of Hyderabad (RICH) in a recent interaction with India Pharma Outlook shared her views on how AI and Machine Learning in Drug Discovery and Digital Health Technologies are shaping the landscape of the Indian life sciences sector, how AI and machine learning applications are influencing drug discovery and development processes in India's life sciences industry and more. Rashmi Pimpale is an industry professional with over two decades of experience in pharmaceutical sciences, industrial R&D, intellectual property management, and leading government initiatives.

How are AI and Machine Learning in Drug Discovery and Digital Health Technologies shaping the landscape of the Indian life sciences sector, specifically focusing on these trends?

AI and Machine Learning (ML) are at the forefront of revolutionizing the Indian life sciences sector, particularly in drug discovery and digital health. We have witnessed firsthand how startups we support are leveraging AI to make breakthroughs in this area. Digital health technologies powered by AI are transforming healthcare accessibility, especially in rural areas. The Indian market for artificial intelligence (AI) in drug discovery is projected to grow to INR 2.57 trillion by 2028, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 30.82% from 2023 to 2028, driven by innovations in telemedicine, wearable devices, and AI-based health analytics. These advancements facilitate real-time data collection and personalized treatment plans, enhancing patient outcomes.

Through initiatives like telemedicine and mobile health applications, India is poised to become a hub for AI-driven life sciences, benefiting from its diverse population and rich genomic datasets.

Can you highlight how AI and machine learning applications are influencing drug discovery and development processes in India's life sciences industry?

AI and machine learning enable rapid target identification, virtual compound screening, and drug repurposing. Integration with digital health technologies aids in real-time data analysis and personalized medicine. Despite challenges like data quality and regulatory hurdles, the future of AI-driven drug development in India is promising, offering faster and more efficient pathways to new treatments.

For Instance, AlphaFold is revolutionizing AI in drug development by accurately predicting protein structures, a crucial step for understanding diseases and designing drugs. Its open-access database provides researchers worldwide with structural insights, accelerating target identification and drug discovery while significantly reducing costs and timelines. This breakthrough empowers the development of treatments for complex diseases, enhances precision medicine, and fosters global collaboration, making drug development more efficient and accessible.

MolVerse is revolutionizing structural and molecular discoveries with precision. Using cutting-edge tech, MolVerse accelerates cost-effective 3D reconstruction, analysis, and visualization of macromolecular structures from native states. Combining nanotechnology, biological chemistry, and unbiased machine learning MolVerse is advancing drug discovery for human healthcare by reducing animal model use.

Algen BioTechnologies is revolutionizing therapeutic drug discovery through advanced CRISPR gene-modulation and AI. AlgenCRISPR powers the AlgenBrain platform to industrialize single-cell, combinatorial gene modulation driving towards impactful human-centric therapeutic endpoints.

Centella - Centella presents a revolutionary solution to the challenges of Drug Discovery by harnessing state-of-the-art Chemical Language Models (CLMs) and Generative AI algorithms. Their approach encompasses De Novo Drug Design (DNDD), ADME & Toxicity Prediction, Retrosynthesis, Virtual Screening, and Binding Affinity prediction.

In what ways are digital health technologies transforming healthcare delivery and patient outcomes across India?

Digital health technologies are transforming healthcare delivery across India, particularly through telemedicine, remote patient monitoring, and mobile health applications. We support startups developing innovative solutions, such as PlebC - developing remote ultrasound devices that empower radiologists to overcome geographic barriers, and WinHealth developing a platform for managing chronic gut issues through digital therapeutics and remote monitoring. These advancements are empowering patients with vital health information, fostering proactive health management, and ultimately leading to improved healthcare outcomes.

Apex AI Agent is an AI-powered solution for hospital management. It seamlessly integrates with your existing system, providing features to streamline operations, enhance patient engagement, and boost efficiency.

Exsegen Genomics is pioneering the future of brain tumor diagnostics through innovative technologies and cutting-edge research. Their liquid biopsy solution aims to replace surgical biopsy with a sample of peripheral venous blood - bringing together a deep understanding of cancer biology and machine learning algorithms in the diagnosis, monitoring, and management of brain tumor patients.

Another example is Avinya Neurotech, which is developing India's first AI-powered multimodal continuous neuromonitoring solution for critical care, emergency, and ambulatory setups.

How is the integration of big data analytics enhancing research capabilities and clinical trials within the Indian life sciences sector?

One of the major applications of AI is in the area of clinical trials wherein it enhances efficiency, accuracy, and patient outcomes. It optimizes trial design through predictive analytics, identifying ideal patient populations and forecasting potential outcomes. It accelerates patient recruitment by analyzing electronic health records and demographic data to match participants with trials faster. It also improves monitoring and compliance by using wearable devices and real-time data analysis, ensuring adherence to protocols. Additionally, AI models predict potential risks, reducing trial failures and costs. By streamlining these processes, AI shortens trial durations, lowers costs, and enhances the likelihood of regulatory approval for new treatments.

Big data analytics revolutionizes research capabilities and clinical trials by analyzing large datasets to uncover patterns and inform treatment development. In clinical trials, big data enhances patient recruitment and selection, increasing trial success rates. Real-time monitoring and analysis of trial data enable quick adjustments to protocols, improving outcomes. Big data allows the life sciences sector to conduct more efficient and effective research.

InSilicoMinds specializes in providing AI and advanced modeling and simulation solutions for Pharma & Life Sciences by offering the best-in-class in silico solutions to optimize the drug development cycle, reduce costs, save time, and improve patient outcomes.

Given the key challenges like Data Privacy and Security and Infrastructure and Accessibility for adopting precision medicine approaches in India, how are these hurdles being addressed by businesses?

Data privacy and security concerns can be addressed by investing in robust cybersecurity measures, including encryption and secure data storage. Compliance with regulatory standards ensures patient data confidentiality.

Several guidelines are being put in place. In India, cybersecurity for medical devices and Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) follows local and global standards. The Indian Medical Device Rules, 2017 mandate safety and risk management, including cybersecurity. CERT-In provides guidelines on incident reporting, vulnerability management, and secure software practices. NDHM and ABDM require secure data storage, encryption, and restricted access to healthcare software. International standards like ISO 13485, IEC 62304, and ISO 27001 ensure quality and security. IT Rules, 2011, and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 mandate secure handling of health data.

Manufacturers must adopt security-by-design, with secure coding, encryption, updates, and incident reporting to CDSCO and CERT-In. Collaborations with government agencies and healthcare providers improve infrastructure, especially in rural areas. Lastly, the development of affordable digital health tools and training of healthcare workers is helping to bridge technical expertise gaps.

Looking ahead, what emerging technologies do you foresee will have the most significant impact on the future of the Indian life sciences sector, and how should industry stakeholders prepare for these advancements?

Emerging technologies such as genomics, blockchain, and the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) will significantly impact the Indian life sciences sector. Genomics enables personalized medicine, requiring investment in research and genetic data analysis. Blockchain enhances data privacy and security, offering transparency in patient data handling. IoMT facilitates continuous health monitoring and real-time data collection. Industry stakeholders should integrate these technologies and ensure interoperability to drive innovation and improve patient outcomes. We are focused on ensuring that industry stakeholders are prepared for these advancements by fostering innovation and facilitating collaboration across the sector. This forward-thinking approach will be critical in driving the next wave of improvements in patient outcomes and healthcare delivery.