The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in drug development is rapidly expanding, enhancing research and development (R&D) efficiency while reducing risks of failure. This shift is also reshaping the industry structure, with global pharmaceutical giants increasingly engaging in licensing and mergers and acquisitions (M&A).
K-Bio is at a pivotal moment, needing to establish a full value chain that connects technology validation, capital acquisition, and global expansion. The ability to secure and utilize AI-driven big data has emerged as a critical factor for global competitiveness. Experts suggest that companies need to integrate data across the entire cycle, from candidate substance discovery to clinical design, patient data analysis, and production optimization.
Aju Economy held the 16th Global Healthcare Forum on May 14 at the Korea Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. The forum focused on the theme of "AI Revolution: K-Bio's Global Value Chain Strategy," discussing the structural changes AI has brought to the pharmaceutical and bio industries and the necessary responses moving forward.
Attendees included lawmakers such as Han Ji-a from the People Power Party and Park Hee-seung from the Democratic Party, as well as Ahn Young-jin, Director of the Bio and Pharmaceutical Safety Bureau, and Lee Jae-guk, Vice President of the Korea Pharmaceutical and Bio Association, who participated in person or via written messages to celebrate the event.
During the expert presentations, Nam Gi-yeop, CEO of Pharos I-Bio; Jeong Yoon-taek, Director of the Pharmaceutical Industry Strategy Research Institute; and Park Hyun-jung, Head of the Bio Pharmaceutical Approval Division at the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, spoke on topics including "AI Drug Development Platform Chemiverse: Present and Future," "Securing Big Data to Capture New Drugs: AI 'Pharma 5.0'," and "Policies to Support Globalization of K-Bio."
Nam noted, "AI drug development has entered an era of 'AI agents' that can formulate hypotheses and make decisions autonomously, evolving into intelligent partners that support decision-making throughout the entire drug development process."
Jeong emphasized, "The pharmaceutical and bio industries are entering the 'Pharma 5.0' era. Without high-quality, vast data, AI models cannot learn or predict effectively, so capturing data is essential to capture new drugs."
As companies actively pursue drug development using AI, the government is also focusing on reducing the time required for drug development and approval. Park stated, "Shortening the drug development and approval process will alleviate the burden on companies and bolster the global market entry and export expansion of domestic firms."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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