How is big data impacting the pharmaceutical industry?

The industry holds an abundance of data, it is, therefore, crucial that we find the best ways to analyse and gain meaningful insight from it as we work to innovate drug development. In 2020, GlobalData Plc reported that the global data and analytics market in the pharmaceutical sector was valued at $1.4 billion and deemed crucial for business strategies across the industry. Fast-forward to 2022, it is clear that big data has proved revolutionary and is sure to boost brighter prospects for the medical sector. 

Read on as we delve into how big data is impacting the industry and its major benefits. 

Big data can help clinical trial design  

It is no secret that drug development is a notoriously rigorous process. In driving pharmaceutical production forward in a shorter amount of time, big data has helped reduce some of the skyrocketing costs and drawbacks associated with clinical trials. 

JAMA reports the estimated research and development spend for a new drug is $1.1 billion which includes the costs for failed clinical trials. When designing a clinical trial, several factors to take into consideration, the most important being to recruit the correct candidates for your study. This is certainly a time-consuming element but big data can help as it allows researchers to leverage genetic makeup, disease status, historic patient data, demographics, past clinical trial data and much more to find the right participants. This saves both time and money and maximises the study’s success rate and in some cases, minimises the need for clinical trials altogether. 

What can predictive modelling do in terms of drug discovery? 

From transformed medical devices to some of the most innovative and pioneering organisations implementing edge computing, technology is always welcomed with open arms, especially when it comes to analysing data.

The intricacies behind drug discovery are complex, to say the least. Researchers work hard to assess compounds on cellular and molecular levels which at times, involves the process of trial and error. That being the case, big data allows space for predictive analysis, what is referred to in the industry as predictive modelling. This is where researchers can predict how drugs will interact, their toxicity and inhibition, which of course saves researchers a significant amount of time. Working with big data also serves to enhance drug discovery with software algorithms that correlate drug data, indicating whether a drug needs fine-tuning or predicting drug potency. 

How can big data help your medical sales career? 

Nurture your sales effort by mining social media big data. You can learn a lot by identifying specific keywords and phrases that relate to a certain pharmaceutical drug or health condition. This enables you to place yourself in the shoes of the consumer and gain more insight into their experience in the words they use. Looking to get your pharmaceutical sales career off the ground? Analysing health content on social media is pivotal for many reasons as it allows you to

• Gain a better understanding of consumer behaviour/tendencies 

• Evaluate levels of consumer satisfaction 

• Provide feedback to your pharmaceutical business regarding any new, niche or underdeveloped market you have identified. 

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Now that you’re up to date with how big data is impacting the pharmaceutical industry, it’s time to explore your opportunities. As the healthcare sector continues to evolve, there has never been a better time to step foot in the pharmaceutical industry. If you’re looking to take the next step in your career, why not browse some of our medical sales rep jobs or sign up for job alerts now?

If you're still interested in the latest development impacting the industry, why not check out how technology is helping to transform pharma?