In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as one of the most transformative technologies across multiple industries. Its ability to rapidly analyze, sort, and organize massive amounts of data has opened up new possibilities for industries like healthcare and pharmaceuticals, where the sheer volume and complexity of data have historically been challenging to manage. AI’s application in these sectors is now allowing for more efficient processes, better outcomes, and groundbreaking innovations.
Johnson & Johnson, a leader in healthcare innovation, recently shared six key ways it is integrating AI into its operations. According to Jim Swanson, executive vice president and chief information officer at Johnson & Johnson, “In the next few years, AI is going to play an even bigger role. The technology is currently being used to help our employees detect disease at earlier stages, accelerate drug discovery, assist with clinical trial recruitment, map a patient’s anatomy before a procedure, and help surgeons predict the best tool for surgery.”
How Johnson & Johnson is using AI to shape the future of healthcare:
1. Enhancing Surgical Performance with AI
In the operating room, every decision matters. AI is being utilized to analyze surgical procedures and provide real-time feedback to improve surgeon performance. By reviewing data and video footage from the operating room, AI algorithms can identify patterns and suggest ways to enhance surgical techniques. This allows surgeons to make adjustments and improve outcomes, leading to safer and more efficient procedures.
Shan Jegatheeswaran, global vice president of medtech digital at Johnson & Johnson, likens surgeons to high-performance athletes: “New and learning surgeons want to see how they performed and learn from their performances and how others performed. But it’s a lot of work to sit and watch hours of footage from the full procedure and cut it down to clips.” AI is stepping in to handle this task, helping surgeons quickly identify areas for improvement and refine their skills without the tedious task of manual video review.
2. Revolutionizing Drug Discovery
The pharmaceutical industry has long been known for the time and resources required to develop new drugs. On average, bringing a drug from the lab to the market can take over a decade and cost billions of dollars. AI is helping to streamline this process by sifting through enormous datasets to identify promising drug candidates more quickly and accurately.
Chris Moy, scientific director of oncology, data science, and digital health at Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine, points out that only a small percentage of drug candidates ever make it to clinical trials, and an even smaller percentage become approved medicines. By applying AI, Johnson & Johnson is advancing the most promising candidates to clinical development faster, with the ultimate goal of improving success rates and bringing new treatments to patients more rapidly.
3. Accelerating Clinical Trial Recruitment
Clinical trials are essential for advancing medical treatments, but recruitment has long been a bottleneck. Traditionally, trials have taken place at large academic medical centers, which limits patient access. AI is now helping to address this challenge by identifying potential participants more effectively and expanding the reach of clinical trials beyond these centers.
Nicole Turner, senior director of global development, data science & digital health, R&D at Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine, explains, “Historically, many clinical trials have largely taken place at major academic medical centers, but we know that not all patients have access to these centers. Our goal is to leverage the power of AI to bring trials to more patients, rather than waiting for patients to come to us.” By making trials more accessible, AI is helping to ensure more diverse and representative patient populations, which can lead to more accurate and effective treatments.
4. Delivering More Personalized Care
Personalized medicine is another area where AI is making a significant impact. AI algorithms can analyze individual patient data, such as genetic information and medical history, to tailor treatments to the specific needs of each patient. This personalized approach leads to more effective treatments and better patient outcomes.
For example, in complex surgeries, AI can map a patient’s anatomy before a procedure, helping clinicians anticipate potential challenges and choose the best course of action. By providing precise, patient-specific insights, AI is helping clinicians make more informed decisions and deliver care that is uniquely suited to each patient.
5. Improving Treatment Delivery Speed
In healthcare, timely treatment is often a matter of life and death. AI is helping to accelerate the speed at which treatments reach patients by optimizing supply chains and improving operational efficiency. This is particularly crucial in the pharmaceutical industry, where delays can have serious consequences for patients in need of life-saving medications.
Vishal Varma, director of supply chain digital and data science at Johnson & Johnson, highlights the role of AI in creating a more resilient supply chain: “It’s our responsibility to make sure patients and customers have reliable access to the transformational therapies our company creates. AI is helping us build a stable, efficient, and resilient supply chain so we can deliver on that obligation.” By streamlining operations and predicting potential disruptions, AI ensures that medications and treatments are delivered as quickly and efficiently as possible.
6. Transforming Surgical Tools and Techniques
In addition to enhancing surgeon performance, AI is helping to improve the surgical tools and techniques themselves. By analyzing past surgeries, AI can predict which tools will be most effective for a given procedure, enabling more precise and efficient operations. This technology not only improves outcomes for patients but also reduces the time and resources required for each surgery.
According to Johnson & Johnson, AI has the potential to provide care teams with valuable insights into the behaviors, tactics, and movements that lead to the best surgical outcomes. Over time, as more data is collected and analyzed, AI will continue to refine and improve surgical procedures, leading to even better results for patients.
The Growing Impact of AI in Healthcare
Johnson & Johnson’s use of AI in healthcare is just the beginning. As the technology continues to evolve, its impact on the industry will only grow. According to a recent report by McKinsey & Company, AI has the potential to add $13 trillion to the global economy by 2030, with healthcare being one of the primary beneficiaries. From improving patient care to accelerating drug development, AI is set to transform healthcare in ways that were once unimaginable.
For more in-depth insights on how Johnson & Johnson is leveraging AI to transform healthcare, you can read their full post here.
