OCTOBER 20239TECH OUTLOOKfor delivering the results of a clinical trial. This makes it necessary that the other functions willingly accept the leadership of clinical development for the smooth functioning of the processes. Implementing such a culture of working together and collaborating in a smaller organization is, undeniably, difficult, as people tend to be reluctant about changing their methods of working. However, it must be remembered that in every aspect of human life, only through working together can outstanding results be obtained, and the same is true for the clinical science space.What, according to you are some of the prevailing challenges in the clinical sciences space today, and how do these challenges impact the design execution and regulatory approval of clinical trials?The cost factor is certainly the first that comes to mind in regard to the prevailing challenges. Clinical development, clinical trials, and drugs remain too expensive for the majority of the population to afford, and no steps have been taken in this direction so far. To give a personal example, I recently came across a gene treatment that is effective enough to eradicate the disease in just one shot, but it costs around 3 million dollars. Pharmacologists tend to justify these exorbitant prices by pointing out that the cost of patient care happens to be significantly more than that of the drug. This, however, does not serve as an appropriate explanation for me. The second challenge is one concerning the great deal of time it takes for new drugs to reach the point where you have all the necessary data needed to send them to the approval stage. It takes a considerable amount of time to activate a trial and enroll the patient, and the situation has remained largely unchanged in the last 50 years. Consequently, there is a need to not only reduce the cost of life-saving drugs but also streamline the approval process to make them readily available. This is particularly relevant in light of the fact that as the age of the general population increases, a spike would also be observed in diseases and the number of people being affected. The research and studies on new drug development should proceed with a clinical and scientific rationale for the benefit of the patients without being solely preoccupied with commercial interests.What according to you are some of the latest technological advancements that you find promising in the clinical sciences field?A recent development of paramount importance would be the ability to handle big data alongside the advancements made in artificial intelligence (AI). The latest research testifies to AI's capability of finding antibiotics in 10 minutes, and many companies are using algorithms in order to aid the treatment of patients. Vital data pertaining to the patient's age, health condition, and cancer stage are amassed by these companies and AI then uses this data to suggest the best treatment and clinical trial for the patient. It can also enable the identification of people who have a higher chance of developing cancer. The likelihood of this technology growing in the future and it being adopted by more hospitals, as a result, is high. A possible limitation of this AI technology is that the screening of the population might lead to the identification of people who are not likely to develop critical health issues, which would then entail unnecessary costs. Nevertheless, this technology remains a favorable option as it removes patients' dependency on big hospitals, with even small hospitals having the capability of suggesting the best treatment and clinical trial for you. Further, given that a proper internet connection is the only requirement in this case, it can help people in developing countries in Africa and Asia in gaining access to clinical trials.What would be your advice to fellow peers and aspiring individuals who want to pursue a successful career in the clinical and oncology space?The first step is to ascertain your motivation for working in oncology, which is certainly not the same for everyone. The motivating factor becomes crucial in light of the fact that it is not a very rewarding job, given the high mortality rate at the end of clinical trials. For me personally, a major turning point was my work in pediatric cancer, where I realized that although we cannot save everyone, there are also those whom we can. In other kinds of cancer too, like pancreatic cancer, not every patient can be saved, but the number of those who can be saved is increasing steadily. As a result, it is important to have this kind of motivation to contribute as part of a larger system, making a difference not in one day but gradually over a period of time. Likewise, it must be remembered that in this sector it takes a considerable amount of time before reaching any results. At the same time, one must be curious about the various related aspects of clinical development and work towards gaining knowledge in these areas. This is vital as restricting yourself to a particular field of interest will limit the extent of your knowledge as a whole. I believe the research and studies on new drug development should proceed with a clinical and scientific rationale for the benefit of the patients without being solely preoccupied with commercial interests
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