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With technological advancements continually reshaping the pharmaceutical and medical device industries, discussions around Artificial Intelligence (AI) are becoming increasingly prevalent. One area generating significant interest is using AI for pre-screening content within the Medical, Legal, and Regulatory (MLR) process. While the concept is promising, its practical application remains complex, and there are both opportunities and limitations to consider.
The Promise of AI in Medical Review
AI and other advanced technologies have the potential to streamline content review processes significantly. By reliably pre-screening content and providing meaningful results, these tools could lead to measurable productivity gains. Reviewers and MLR operational teams could theoretically review content more quickly, reducing bottlenecks in the approval process.
A well-designed pre-screening tool would ideally be deployed early in the content lifecycle—during the planning and creation phases—and remain accessible throughout the MLR approval process. This integration could help teams identify potential compliance issues, flag inaccuracies, or check claims against pre-approved content early, minimizing rework and delays later.
The Reality of Current AI Tools
While AI-driven content screening solutions have been around for years, their success has been limited. The challenges have been significant and include:
• Content Complexity: Medical and promotional content is highly nuanced and requires a deep understanding of scientific, regulatory, and contextual factors.
• Poor Integration: Many tools fail to integrate seamlessly with Content Management Systems (CMS), resulting in workflow disruptions.
• Multiple Sources of Truth: Inefficient implementation can lead to inconsistencies, creating duplicate or conflicting data.
• Reliability Issues: Speed and accuracy of results have often fallen short of expectations, undermining trust in the tools.
Despite these challenges, advances in technology and AI continue to drive innovation. Companies like Canopy Life Sciences, along with others, are making investments to develop more robust commercial solutions that address these long-standing issues.
AI Is Not a Replacement for Human Reviewers
It’s important to emphasize that current discussions around AI in medical review are focused solely on pre-MLR screening. No AI solution on the horizon aims to replace the critical role of human reviewers. The complexity, judgment, and expertise required for MLR reviews remain beyond the capabilities of even the most advanced AI systems.
Instead, the goal is to complement the work of reviewers by identifying potential issues earlier in the process, enabling them to focus on more strategic and high-value tasks.
Immediate Solutions Without AI
Interestingly, there are steps life sciences companies can take today—without relying on AI or pre-screening tools—that can have a significant impact on review cycles. These include:
• Core Claims Libraries: Establishing and maintaining a robust claims library provides a central repository of pre-approved claims, streamlining content creation and review.
• Approved Content Blocks: Utilizing blocks of pre-approved content can reduce repetitive review cycles and improve consistency across materials.
Unfortunately, only a small percentage of life sciences companies have adopted these foundational best practices. Often, the focus on “innovative solutions” can overshadow the readily available opportunities that offer equally significant—or even greater—efficiencies. By prioritizing these basics, organizations can achieve immediate efficiency gains while laying a strong foundation for future AI integration.
Looking Ahead
AI holds great promise for improving productivity and efficiency in medical review, but its success depends on the quality and reliability of the tools, as well as seamless integration into existing workflows. While we continue to explore and develop AI-driven solutions, it’s crucial to focus on foundational practices that can deliver significant value today.
By combining proven methods like claims libraries with emerging technologies, the future of medical review can become more efficient while helping to ensure compliance without compromising quality. For now, the human element remains indispensable. However, there are actionable solutions we can implement today to drive meaningful improvements.
Partner with Canopy Life Sciences
There’s a lot at stake when bringing a new product to market. Pharma and medical device compliance is critical, but so is supporting your commercial team’s ability to communicate compelling product information to patients and healthcare practitioners. Join the growing list of successful brands that have partnered with Canopy Life Sciences for their medical promotional review needs. Our flexible, fee-for-service model ensures you receive the specialized expertise you need, without long-term commitments, allowing your team to focus on their core competencies while we handle the complexities of medical review.
