Pharmaceutical companies are increasingly harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) to advance research and development, resulting in groundbreaking healthcare solutions. Recent innovations include AI-driven cancer treatment target identification, optimized drug combinations, and automated systems for improved production efficiency and sterility testing. These developments are enhancing patient care, accelerating drug discovery, and boosting operational efficiency. V the way in AI adoption within the pharmaceutical sector are the US, China, the UK, South Korea, and India. The impact of AI also extends beyond pharmaceuticals, influencing a range of other industries. GlobalData’s artificial intelligence market report provides comprehensive analysis of the market.

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This article presents a quarterly round-up of the latest trends in the pharmaceutical industry regarding AI. It provides an overview of recent developments in AI-related deals, talent acquisition, and patent filings within the pharmaceutical industry.

Diverse applications of artificial intelligence in pharmaceutical industry

Pharma companies are increasingly leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to enhance their research and development processes, leading to innovative solutions in healthcare. Recent patents highlight advancements such as methods for identifying cancer treatment targets and optimizing drug combinations for colorectal carcinoma, which can significantly improve therapeutic outcomes. Additionally, AI-driven pharmacokinetics systems enable precise dosing for patients requiring clotting factor therapy, while automated systems for optimizing culture conditions in bioreactors promise enhanced production efficiency. Furthermore, AI applications in sterility testing streamline contamination analysis, ensuring higher safety standards. These innovations position companies to improve patient care, accelerate drug development, and optimize operational efficiencies in the pharmaceutical industry.

The industry experienced a 2% growth in the number of AI-related patent applications in Q2 2024 compared with the previous quarter. On an annual basis, the number of AI-related patent applications in the pharmaceutical industry witnessed a rise of 11% compared with Q2 2023.

Strategic deal trends in artificial intelligence in pharmaceutical industry

Pharmaceutical companies are not only focusing on innovation to enhance their patent portfolios but are also making strategic investments in AI. These investments aim to secure lucrative deals with partners and position themselves at the forefront of industry advancements. Some of the recent deals underscore the importance of AI in the pharmaceutical industry.

In Q2 2024, the number of AI-related deals in the pharmaceutical industry grew by 14% compared with Q2 2023. On a quarterly basis, there was 23% drop in the number of deals in Q2 2024 compared with the previous quarter.

Impact on hiring

In terms of new job posting, in Q2 2024, the pharmaceutical industry experienced a 10% growth compared with the previous quarter. On an annual basis, job postings also grew by 17%. Notably, management occupations, with a share of 25%, emerged as the top AI-related job roles within the pharmaceutical industry in Q2 2024, with new job postings rising by 39% quarter-on-quarter. Computer and mathematical occupations came in second with a share of 18% in Q2 2024, with new job postings dropping by 6% over the previous quarter. The other prominent AI roles include life, physical, and social science occupations with a 9% share in Q2 2024, and business and financial operations occupations with a 3% share of new job postings.

Sanofi, Eurofins Scientific, , Novartis, and Johnson & Johnson are among the top companies leading in AI hiring within the pharmaceutical industry.

Countries driving adoption of artificial intelligence in pharmaceutical industry

The US is the leading country in AI adoption within the pharmaceutical industry, boasting the highest number of AI-related patents, jobs, and deals. Meanwhile, China, the UK, Canada and South Korea also maintain significant positions in AI adoption within the pharmaceutical industry.

Despite a recent drop in quarterly deals, the growth in AI-related patent applications and job postings reflects the sector's continued investment in AI technologies. These advancements promise to further transform the pharmaceutical industry and improve therapeutic outcomes.

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, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.

GlobalData patent analytics tracks patent filings and grants across companies and themes. Proprietary databases on deals and job analytics are used to respectively monitor global deal activity and uncover insights from daily job postings to identify trends, company activities, and industry dynamics across different sectors globally.