BPOM head: AI can accelerate drug discovery and reduce human error

Taruna Ikrar, head of Indonesia's Food and Drug Authority (BPOM), stated in Beijing that artificial intelligence (AI) can significantly accelerate the drug discovery process and improve the efficiency of health product supervision.

During his visit to China, where he met with the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) and spoke at Tsinghua University, Ikrar explained that AI can assist in various stages of the Investigational New Drug (IND) process. This includes identifying molecules that interact with biological targets, validating hit molecules, and conducting preclinical simulations. AI technology can also be used to detect particles, proteins, and receptors.

Beyond pharmaceuticals, Ikrar noted that AI has potential applications in food product development, such as the future development of lab-grown meat. He emphasized that utilizing AI can handle massive amounts of data more efficiently than manual processes while reducing human error. He suggested that Indonesia could learn from China's existing use of AI in drug regulation and oversight.