Pharma Giants Embrace AI: J&J, Merck, and Eli Lilly Prioritize Upskilling for Drug Progress
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Johnson & Johnson, Merck, and Eli Lilly are making significant strides in integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into thier core operations, with a pronounced emphasis on upskilling their existing workforce. These pharmaceutical powerhouses are investing substantially in comprehensive training programs designed to equip their employees with the necessary skills to effectively leverage generative AI. the primary goal is to enhance productivity, particularly in the critical area of drug development. Johnson & Johnson alone has seen over 56,000 employees participate in generative AI training courses,underscoring the magnitude of this industry-wide conversion. This initiative reflects a broader trend among pharmaceutical companies that increasingly recognise the transformative potential of AI across various facets of their business.
Johnson & Johnson is actively redefining the concept of a well-rounded employee, emphasizing proficiency not only in traditional job skills such as research, supply chain management, and finance, but also in the rapidly evolving field of AI technology. Jim Swanson, the chief data officer of J&J, has emphasized the critical necessity of this dual-skillset approach, highlighting the company’s commitment to staying at the forefront of innovation.
There are so many ways we’ve been using AI, But to do that effectively, we had to realy create a curriculum and a mindset around upskilling.
Jim Swanson, Chief Information Officer, Johnson & Johnson
More than 56,000 of J&J’s 138,000 employees have successfully completed a generative AI training course, which is now a prerequisite for utilizing the technology within the company. This comprehensive training enables employees to effectively use generative AI tools for a variety of tasks,including summarization and prompt engineering.Prompt engineering, in particular, is considered a crucial skill for eliciting optimal outputs from large language models. In addition to the generative AI training, a more extensive digital boot camp covering AI, augmented reality, and automation has recorded over 37,000 cumulative hours of training from more than 14,000 employees, demonstrating J&J’s deep commitment to digital literacy.
The potential benefits of generative AI in the pharmaceutical industry are extensive and far-reaching.These benefits include accelerating the often lengthy and costly process of drug development,streamlining regulatory compliance procedures,optimizing patient selection for clinical trials to ensure more effective results,and enhancing drug marketing strategies to reach the right patients. Deborah Golden,Deloitte’s US chief innovation officer,has highlighted how these advancements are fundamentally reshaping the skills that are prioritized in pharmaceutical recruitment,emphasizing the need for a new breed of professional.
When you think about how AI is shifting the balance and the talent requirements, you really need to be able to speak both the language of biology and AI models.
Deborah Golden, Deloitte’s US Chief Innovation Officer
How AI is Changing Drug Development
Generative AI has the potential to save the pharmaceutical industry tens of billions of dollars annually by substantially improving productivity in drug development. J&J, renowned for treatments such as stelara and darzalex, has been leveraging traditional forms of AI for nearly a decade. These applications include AI-enabled software tools that guide surgeons during complex procedures, accelerate the drug revelation process by identifying promising compounds, and optimize inventory management to reduce waste and improve efficiency.
In 2023, J&J piloted a six-week digital immersion program specifically focused on AI, data science, and other emerging technologies. Over 2,500 employees participated in the program, attending 90-minute classes each week to deepen their understanding of these critical areas. The company plans to expand the program further this year, reflecting its ongoing commitment to fostering a culture that promotes technological literacy and continuous learning.Swanson emphasized the importance of adapting to remain competitive.
We’ve been around 135 years. We’ve had to reinvent ourselves multiple times to stay relevant and current.
Jim Swanson,Chief Information Officer,Johnson & Johnson
Merck,another major player in the pharmaceutical industry,has invested in a proprietary platform called GPTeal. This platform provides employees with secure access to large language models (LLMs) such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Meta’s Llama, and Anthropic’s Claude, while simultaneously safeguarding sensitive company data. Ron Kim, a senior vice president and the chief technology officer of Merck, explained the company’s evolving AI strategy, emphasizing a focus on practical applications and measurable results.
Now, the journey is clearly to identify, implement, track, and measure use cases that have a dramatic impact on our business.
Ron Kim, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Merck
Merck’s employees are actively using generative AI for a variety of tasks, including drafting emails and regulatory documents. Kim noted that this allows scientists to focus on higher-impact activities, such as conducting research and analyzing data, rather than spending valuable time on routine tasks like copyediting. He also mentioned that over 50,000 Merck employees are actively using GPTeal, supported by self-serve digital training courses, monthly webcasts, and boot camps specifically designed for software developers.
AI Appeals to Pharmaceutical Companies of Various Sizes
Even smaller companies are recognizing the significant value of AI in streamlining operations and accelerating drug development. Dr. Daniel Stevens, the chief medical officer at blue Earth Therapeutics, a clinical-stage radiopharmaceutical company founded in 2021, noted that AI can definitely help achieve critical efficiency goals, which is particularly critically important for startups with limited capital and resources.
the submission of artificial intelligence is of interest, as it may help us with some of our efficiency goals.
Dr. Daniel Stevens,Chief Medical Officer,Blue Earth Therapeutics
Blue Earth Therapeutics,with just 20 full-time employees,plans to utilize online courses and AI certifications from external vendors to train its workforce as it grows. This approach allows the company to leverage existing expertise and scale its training efforts as needed. Eli Lilly, another major pharmaceutical company, has embraced generative AI to support research and development for both small and large molecules, and also to generate documentation for clinical trials and regulatory submissions, streamlining these critical processes.
Diogo Rau,the chief information and digital officer at Eli Lilly,emphasized the company’s proactive approach to AI adoption,contrasting it with the restrictions imposed by some other major employers. Eli Lilly has actively encouraged its employees to experiment with and integrate AI into their daily workflows.
We went in the exact opposite direction. We told everybody you need to use it, you need to start bringing ChatGPT into your work. Don’t put anything in there that you don’t want to get out.
Diogo Rau, Chief Information and Digital Officer, Eli Lilly
Eli Lilly has also implemented innovative initiatives such as an “AI Games” competition to encourage employees to explore creative applications of AI, and has even encouraged employees to use generative AI for tasks such as drafting year-end reviews. In 2024, the company will require all senior leaders and managers to obtain an AI certification, demonstrating its commitment to ensuring that leadership is well-versed in the technology. Rau noted the excited response from employees, who frequently share their AI applications with him, highlighting the widespread adoption and excitement surrounding AI within the company.
We’ve got a workforce that is embracing AI.
Diogo Rau, Chief Information and Digital Officer, Eli Lilly
The pharmaceutical industry’s widespread adoption of AI and commitment to upskilling reflects a strategic recognition of the technology’s potential to revolutionize drug development and improve overall efficiency. As AI continues to evolve, these companies are positioning themselves to remain at the forefront of innovation, ensuring they can leverage the latest advancements to develop life-saving treatments and improve patient outcomes.
Pharma’s AI Revolution: Upskilling for a New Era of Drug Discovery
Is the pharmaceutical industry on the cusp of a transformative era driven by artificial intelligence, fundamentally reshaping how drugs are developed and brought to market?
Interview with Dr. Evelyn Reed, leading expert in pharmaceutical innovation and technological advancement
Senior Editor (SE): Dr. Reed, the article highlights a significant upskilling initiative within major pharmaceutical companies like Johnson & Johnson, merck, and Eli Lilly. What are the key drivers behind this massive investment in training employees on AI technologies?
Dr. Reed (DR): The pharmaceutical industry, traditionally reliant on extensive research and progress cycles, is recognizing the transformative potential of artificial intelligence. The key drivers for this upskilling initiative are multifaceted. Firstly, AI significantly accelerates drug discovery and development. This includes identifying promising drug candidates, optimizing clinical trial designs, and speeding up regulatory approvals. Secondly, AI enhances operational efficiency. Tasks like data analysis, regulatory documentation, and supply chain management can be significantly streamlined using AI-powered tools. AI fosters innovation, enabling scientists to explore new research avenues and develop more effective treatments previously unachievable. Therefore, investment in training ensures that the workforce can effectively leverage these advancements.
SE: The article mentions “generative AI” and “prompt engineering” as crucial skills. Can you elaborate on their significance in pharmaceutical research and development?
DR: Generative AI, offering the ability to create new content, is proving invaluable. In pharmaceutical research, this translates to generating hypotheses, designing experiments, and even predicting the efficacy of drug candidates. Prompt engineering, the art of crafting effective prompts for AI models, is critical for obtaining accurate and relevant outputs. It’s the skill that maximizes the value and utility from these powerful tools. Such as, prompt engineering can be crucial in refining complex algorithms for analyzing genomic data or predicting potential drug-drug interactions. Mastering prompt engineering is essential for unlocking the full potential of generative AI in drug development.
SE: The interview quotes emphasize the need for a “dual-skillset” approach, combining traditional pharmaceutical expertise with proficiency in AI. How can companies effectively achieve this integration of skills within their workforce?
DR: Achieving this integration requires a multi-pronged approach. It starts with comprehensive training programs that equip existing employees with critical AI literacy. This training should extend beyond basic familiarity and encompass hands-on experience with relevant AI tools and techniques. Companies need to foster a culture of continuous learning,encouraging both formalized training and informal knowledge sharing. Furthermore, recruitment strategies need to adapt, actively seeking individuals with expertise in both traditional pharmaceutical sciences and data science/AI.This means rethinking hiring processes, creating attractive incentives for professionals fluent in both the language of biology and AI algorithms.
SE: Beyond the large pharmaceutical companies, the article also highlights the adoption of AI in smaller firms. How can smaller companies, with limited resources, effectively leverage AI in drug discovery?
DR: Smaller pharmaceutical companies can leverage AI strategically by focusing on accessible and cost-effective solutions. Outsourcing certain AI-related tasks and leveraging cloud-based AI platforms can minimize upfront investment. Partnering with larger companies or specialized AI firms can provide access to advanced AI technologies and expertise without the need for extensive internal development. Furthermore, incorporating readily available online courses and AI certifications within their training strategy allows smaller companies to upskill rapidly and affordably. A careful and strategic adoption approach maximizes AI’s impact while staying within budget.
SE: What are some of the ethical considerations associated with the widespread implementation of AI in pharmaceutical research and development?
DR: The ethical implications of AI in pharmaceutical research are complex and require careful attention. Data privacy and security are paramount: protecting patient health data is non-negotiable. Algorithmic bias is another critical area: ensuring fairness and equity in drug development and access is vitally crucial. Transparency and accountability are key to building trust and ensuring ethical practices throughout the AI-driven drug development process. We need robust oversight and ethical frameworks to guide the responsible implementation of AI.
SE: what is your overall outlook on the future of AI in the pharmaceutical industry?
DR: The future of AI in the pharmaceutical industry is bright and transformative. AI will undoubtedly accelerate drug discovery, enhance efficiencies, and drive innovation. Continued investment in employee training, along with a commitment to ethically sound implementation, will be central to realizing the full potential of AI for the betterment of global health. The pharmaceutical industry is poised to enter a new era of drug development, driven by innovation and marked by profound positive impacts on patient health. This requires companies to adopt a proactive and strategic approach,embracing change and focusing their efforts on developing a future-ready workforce.
What are your thoughts on how AI will continue to reshape the pharmaceutical landscape in the future? Share your insights in the comments below.