Applying Machine Learning to Clinical Trials and Pharmacovigilance

Clinical trials or clinical research is a crucial phase in the process of taking a drug or therapy to market. Before the clinical trial phase, the drug is tested in labs and on animals only. At the end of the pre-clinical research phase, highly promising candidates are identified, and they move to the clinical trial phase. This is the first time the drug or therapy is administered to humans. The clinical trial phase provides evidence that the drug or therapy is safe enough to be administered in humans and also has the desired effects (efficacy). The process can take anywhere between 10 and 15 years and follows strict guidelines and protocols. It is also a huge investment from drug manufacturers who spend billions of dollars on execution and support for clinical trials. Clinical trials can also be funded by government agencies and academic medical centers (AMCs) for research purposes, such as observing the effects of...