Biting the data bullet at GlaxoSmithKline

May 15, 2019 Jane 0

GSK’s size undoubtedly makes it a big ship to turn when integrating new tools like machine learning. What this case study shows is that the focus of any organisation today – both large and small, must be on positioning their infrastructure and their personnel in such a way that new trends can be utilised quickly to retain competitive advantage.

Here the author of The AI Advantage, Thomas H. Davenport, examines how GlaxoSmithKline R&D successfully transformed their data allowing them to utilise AI and lay the foundation for creating better drugs, quicker.

Many large organizations eventually realize that they don’t have the data environments they need to succeed with broad-scale AI to work. For GlaxoSmithKline’s (GSK) Research and Development (R&D) organization, that time was in early 2015. The president (at that time) of the unit Patrick Vallance and his senior colleagues deliberated on whether their data environment was of sufficient quality and integration to use tools like machine learning to help develop new drugs…

Attached Issue № 0219
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In my experience: Alex Goddard, AOBiome

May 1, 2019 Jane 0

A scientist by training, Alex Goddard has worked in large companies – namely Novartis’ neuroscience drug discovery division and in small companies including Tal Medical and AOBiome, where he currently serves as VP of Research & Development. He spoke to us about the main differences between the two.

My entry into industry at a big pharma was very edifying. My time at Novartis taught me how the industry prioritizes certain questions in science and showed me the key questions to ask. Novartis was good at providing opportunities to learn and they offered short courses on various aspects of drug discovery and drug development. One of the interesting structural aspects of big pharma is that…

Attached Issue № 0219