Sorintellis, IVADO, Polytechnique Montréal and Université de Montréal join forces to transform pharmaceutical portfolio management through AI with support from MITACS

IVADO, a consortium dedicated to research, training, and knowledge mobilization in artificial intelligence (AI), unveils a strategic partnership between Sorintellis, a leader in pharmaceutical development, Polytechnique Montréal, and Université de Montréal. This joint effort, backed by $480,000 in funding from the MITACS Acceleration program and an additional contribution of over $11,000 from IVADO, seeks to redefine pharmaceutical portfolio management by leveraging AI advancements.

The pharmaceutical industry poses unique R&D challenges. The colossal investments required to develop new drug therapies have made the “pharmaceutical portfolio” concept a key strategy.  Similar to managing an investment portfolio, it aims to maximize the value of investments while reducing the risks associated with pharmaceutical product development, taking into account the financial, regulatory and strategic dimensions of the healthcare market.

Led by Sorintellis, the “Decision-making system for strategic pharmaceutical portfolio management based on artificial intelligence” project carried out in collaboration with IVADO, Polytechnique Montréal and Université de Montréal, represents a major breakthrough in the industry, combining AI expertise with in-depth knowledge of pharmaceutical needs to accelerate drug development while ensuring their effectiveness and safety.

This major project, whose scientific direction is led by Polytechnique Montréal, brings together eminent researchers Prof. Foutse Khomh of Polytechnique Montréal, scientific co-director of IVADO and Canada-CIFAR Chair in AI, Prof. Mireille Schnitzer, associate professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy of Université de Montréal and holder of the Canada Research Chair in Causal Inference and Machine Learning in the Health Sciences, and Prof. Catherine Beauchemin, associate professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy of Université de Montréal.

This collaboration also provides a valuable training opportunity for seven Master’s-level students and two PhD candidates attached to the project, strengthening the capabilities of the next generation of researchers in this crucial field.

Perfectly in line with IVADO’s R³AI challenges for the development and adoption of robust, reasoning and responsible AI, this initiative marks a decisive turning point in the pharmaceutical landscape. It demonstrates the partners’ commitment to promoting innovation and broadening research and development prospects, with the ultimate aim of improving the lives of patients worldwide.

By fostering the sharing of knowledge and best practices, this collaboration promises not only to optimize the complex decisions involved in strategically managing pharmaceutical portfolios, but also to stimulate the emergence of new therapies and medications, opening up new avenues in the medical field.