AI Insights
Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology, combined with big data, hold the potential to solve many key clinical trial challenges.
Big Data and AI technologies are complimentary as AI can help to synthesize and analyse ever-expanding data.
AI-powered capabilities, including data integration and interpretation, pattern recognition and evolutionary modelling, are essential to gather, normalise, analyse and harness the growing masses of data that fuel modern therapy development. Indeed, AI and advanced analytics were viewed as the digital technology with the most potential to improve clinical R&D productivity in our Digital Disruption in Biopharma industry survey.
AI has many potential applications in clinical trials both near- and long-term. AI technologies make possible innovations that are fundamental for transforming clinical trials, such as seamlessly combining phase I and II of clinical trials, developing novel patient-centered endpoints, and collecting and analysing Real World Data.
Decoding AI in software as a medical device (SaMD)
This whitepaper provides a starting point for medical device researchers considering use of AI in SaMDs. Understanding the FDA regulatory requirements and guidance on submissions can enable medical device researchers to plan their route to market and avoid potential obstacles on the way.
Integrating AI Insights into clinical research
AI is transforming clinical research – making drug development faster, more efficient, and more precise. ICON’s latest whitepaper explores how AI is already being integrated into clinical operations, featuring insights from the 2024 Citeline Survey and global research from Tufts CSDD and DIA.
Applying AI to manage the risks and costs of postmarketing requirements
Our award-winning Cassandra AI system harnesses real world data on drugs and data obtained from the US FDA and EMA postmarketing requirements databases to accurately forecast whether postmarketing studies will be necessary.
Advancements in AI for site selection
Learn how ICON is using human-enabled AI to efficiently integrate, interrogate and interpret large datasets from diverse sources and gain valuable insights for site selection in both expected and unexpected ways.
The impact of artificial intelligence on outcomes based contracting
In the United States outcomes-based contracting (OBC) has long been proposed as a measure to reward innovation, based on actual performance of treatments and interventions in patient populations. However, the perceived and actual challenges in implementation have prevented many innovative contracts from leaving the drafting table.
Recently, the potential use of artificial intelligence (AI) to predict suitable outcomes for patients to mitigate potential challenges has been discussed. Read our whitepaper for insights on the latest trends and challenges.
How AI and other digital technologies will transform R&D productivity enough to restore ROI
In our recent white paper 'Digital Disruption in Biopharma' over 83% of survey respondents were piloting, or maturely using, AI technologies.
There were significant gains in reported benefits from use of AI compared to our digital original survey in 2019. 'Identifying biomarkers for predicting responsive patient populations' and 'Creating more predictive models to accelerate clinical trials' were the top two anticipated benefits of AI technologies
AI webinars
Artificial Intelligence at ICON
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a general term for software that mimics human cognition or perception. Rapid progress in AI is transforming many industries with considerable impact, including clinical trials.
Watch the recording.
Advancements in AI for optimal clinical trial site identification: Turning Big Data into actionable intel
Despite advancing technologies, clinical trials still struggle to meet patient enrolment goals. Slow enrolment directly impacts schedule and budget, with each day of delay carrying cripplingly high costs.
Watch the recording.
The future of pharmacovigilance: Exploring automation and AI in literature surveillance
In this webinar, industry experts explore the future of Pharmacovigilance and offer key insights on the critical role of literature surveillance in the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors, and how automation is revolutionising the process.
Watch the recording.
AI at ICON
Our portfolio of award-winning AI solutions are designed to accelerate trial timelines, improve data accuracy, optimise resource management, and ensure compliance — all while maintaining the highest ethical standards.
AI and clinical trials blogs and media contributions
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Media article: Interview series: Part 1 of 5 - Rethinking site activation to cut startup timelines
How contract standardisation, proactive budget alignment, and AI-enabled negotiation tools can reduce site activation delays and turn agreements into strategic accelerators.
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Media article: Interview series: Part 2 of 5 - Closing communication gaps during study startup
Why persistent communication breakdowns between sponsors, CROs, and sites undermine startup efficiency—and how bidirectional, site-informed engagement models can improve collaboration and momentum.
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Media article: Interview series: Part 3 of 5 - Applying AI to reduce administrative burden without losing the human touch
How practical AI applications can streamline contracts and startup workflows while preserving the central role of investigators, site staff, and patient relationships.
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Media article: Interview series: part 4 of 5 - Why startup timelines are worsening – and how to reduce the trend
The operational pressures driving longer activation timelines, from protocol complexity to site competition, and how earlier, more flexible site engagement can restore momentum.
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Media article: Interview series: Part 5 of 5 - Centering site experience to accelerate site activation
How sponsor and CRO practices that prioritise site needs, clarity, and partnership can strengthen trust, sustain momentum, and speed activation.
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Media article: Examining the growing delays in clinical trial start-up
Brian Mallon discusses the increasing timeframe from site selection to full activation, including the issues contributing to the delay and measures to address them.
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Blog: From AI ambition to real world impact
AI in pharma is stalling due to poor data foundations. Discover what makes healthcare data AI-ready—and how Symphony Health, an ICON plc company, delivers the solution.
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Media article: The CRA role’s co-evolution with clinical trial technology
As clinical trials become more complex, the role of the CRA is evolving from site monitor to strategic, digitally fluent partner, requiring expertise in hybrid oversight, risk-based monitoring, and multi-system data management.
The power of AI to transform clinical trials
The AI transformation of clinical trials starts with protocol development, reducing or replacing outcome assessments that may be more responsive to change than traditional methods and utilising remote connected technologies that reduce the need for patients to travel long distances for sites visits.
Data-driven protocols and strategies powered by advanced AI algorithms processing data collected from mobile sensors and apps, electronic medical and administrative records, and other sources have the potential to reduce trial costs. They achieve this by improving data quality, increasing patient compliance & retention, and identifying treatment efficacy more efficiently and reliably than ever before.
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Leveraging voice-assistant technology in clinical trials
In addition to the rise in mobile and wearable solutions, AI powered digital voice assistants are becoming ubiquitous, with every smartphone today now shipping with either Siri or Google Assistant, while smart speakers like the Amazon Echo with Alexa and Google Home are becoming the hubs for smart homes.
Voice assistant technologies provide an opportunity to create a different level of engagement and interaction with patients in comparison to regular apps and web pages. ICON have developed a proof-of-concept application operating on the Amazon Echo platform that leverages a Voice Assistant to deliver a patient-reported outcome instrument and collect patient responses.
