Novo Nordisk targets two-thirds cut in drug launch times with AI

Investing.com -- Novo Nordisk is working to reduce the time required to bring new drugs to market by up to two-thirds through artificial intelligence, according to John Dawber, managing director for global business services, who spoke at a Reuters summit on Friday.

The Danish drugmaker said it has cut the timeline from final clinical trial completion to regulatory filing from approximately 18 months to several months less by implementing AI tools. The company is using AI for drafting regulatory documents, analyzing safety data and supporting commercial analytics for both marketed drugs and drugs in clinical trials.

Novo Nordisk's Bengaluru center is handling an increasing portion of preparatory work for global drug launches, including for its recently launched oral obesity pill in the United States. Dawber said a substantial amount of work for any market launch is completed at the India center, adding that nearly every medicine launched globally has involved work from the Bangalore facility.

The company's global business services unit is expected to have about 4,000 employees by the end of the year. Dawber said a previous target of 5,000 employees by 2025 is now too ambitious, even looking ahead to 2027. The company is focusing on hiring for specific roles as it expands AI-led operations rather than rapidly increasing overall headcount.

Industry forecasts indicate that machine learning could reduce early-stage development timelines by half within the next three to five years.

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