As a relatively new means of conducting research in the life sciences, RWE, or real-world evidence, is data that comes from “real world settings” such as a clinical practice. Studies driven by real world evidence, or real-world data (RWD), can utilize data from medical records or claims databases, be conducted prospectively in observational studies or adhere to a mixed, hybrid-design approach.

Two global forces are at odds today – the push for “greener” processes and the demand for lower prices for prescription drugs and materials. Governments and corporations across the globe are adopting policy initiatives and driving scientific innovations to promote sustainable technologies, resulting in an explosion of discoveries based on both chemical- and biocatalytic transformations.

AI’s use in drug discovery is beginning to gain momentum, as seen by the number of large pharmas are already working with smaller AI-based biotechs. Though the term “AI” can carry certain mixed perceptions, scientists within pharma and biotech are starting to realize that AI is poised to make the human element more effective.

As 2017 comes to a close, it’s time to pause and reflect on where Scientist.com has been, where it’s headed and how the drug discovery landscape has evolved.

The management of the logistics and infrastructure required to extract relevant biological information from large sets of various sources is far from trivial.