Following the announcement by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) to prioritize artificial intelligence (AI) and big data, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) has issued a statement. Senior Policy Manager Hodan Omaar and Vice President for Global Innovation Policy Stephen Ezell shared their insights on this development.
The ITIF leaders stated, "The FDA’s new approach to AI and data exemplifies what it means to make AI work for the American people." They noted that despite America's innovation in health, outcomes have lagged due to bureaucratic hurdles, high costs, and outdated tracking systems.
According to Omaar and Ezell, the FDA's initiative involves using AI not only to enhance medical innovation but also to address systemic issues preventing these innovations from reaching patients. This includes employing generative AI to expedite treatment reviews, utilizing AI modeling as an alternative to animal testing, and applying real-world data tools for better monitoring of treatment outcomes post-approval.
They highlighted that this strategy is setting a precedent for leveraging AI towards public benefit. "By directing AI toward the longstanding bottlenecks that have prevented world-class medical breakthroughs from improving lives," they said, "the FDA is setting a clear example of what it looks like to set AI priorities squarely on public benefit for everyday Americans."
Despite these advancements, affordability remains a pressing issue. The ITIF emphasized that while other OECD nations should contribute more fairly towards innovative medicines, U.S. policymakers must also address distribution within the value chain. More than half of every dollar spent on prescription drugs does not go back into innovation or manufacturing but rather supports other stakeholders.
The ITIF calls for solutions promoting medicine affordability without undermining industry revenues necessary for drug innovation.
For further information, contact Nicole Hinojosa at [email protected].