How can AI be used to further mesothelioma research?
Article written by Miranda Sudo
Modern advancements in artificial intelligence, commonly referred to as AI, have been greatly impacting many industries including scientific research. Recently, one of the leading European companies for AI-powered drug discovery and clinical development, AI Biotech Owkin, received a letter of support from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for their innovative method using AI models to analyze tissue samples. When used together with current methods, this new method significantly improves the accuracy of predicting patient outcomes.
How It Works
Owkin’s AI models, called MesoNet and HCCnet, were trained with an algorithm using images of tissue samples from patients with mesothelioma and liver cancer. These models work by focusing on the most relevant regions of the patients’ biopsy images and then using them to make predictions about the patients’ overall survival. Unlike other methods, these new models provide more transparency and interpretability, making it easier for researchers to understand the important factors that influence the predictions.
The predictions from the models can then be used to adjust the analysis of how well drugs are working in randomized phase 2/3 clinical trials. MesoNet’s predictions will aid in adjusting analysis for life-prolonging drugs in malignant pleural mesothelioma patients, while HCCnet’s predictions will be used the same way for liver cancer patients. These adjustments will provide more accurate evaluations of drug effectiveness in these specific patient groups.
Next Steps
The statistical method used by Owkin is already approved by agencies like the EMA and FDA. Owkin believes that their data-driven approach can further improve the success rates of clinical trials. Since this is new technology, more research is needed to validate the use of AI models compared to traditional methods.
Owkin’s work opens doors for more advancements in research and the responsible use of AI. With their Federated Research Network, they hope to create customized predictions for different diseases, reducing the number of failed clinical trials and improving patients’ outcomes.
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Works Cited
Owkin Staff. “Owkin Receives European Medicines Agency Letter of Support for Innovative AI-Driven Approach to Oncology Trial Analysis.” Newswire, 16 May 2023, www.newswire.com/news/owkin-receives-european-medicines-agency-letter-of-support-for-22039127.
