Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1494960
8 Pharmaceutical Technology ® Quality and Regulatory Sourcebook March eBook 2023 PharmTech.com PUTILOV_DENIS - STOCK.ADOBE.COM A safety surveillance strategy is a require- ment for pharmaceutical companies to monitor product safety in the post-market- ing environment, as well as to keep physi- cians informed on product risks and how to prescribe appropriately. This is usually seen as a labor-inten- sive cost center that often overburdens teams with work, making it difficult to retain talent. As the in- dustry becomes more cost-conscious and is handling more real-world data sources than ever, companies are seeking ways to improve the efficiency and effec- tiveness of their pharmacovigilance (PV) activities. Automation offers the solution for organizations pre- pared to embrace it and to do the hard work required to support digital transformation. Why automation is vital in pharmacovigilance Many reasons exist to support the adoption of automa- tion in drug safety surveillance. Using artificial intel- ligence (AI) in safety surveillance can automate many aspects of the process, including non-electronic data collection, processing of inbound data, and triaging data according to its source. With these applications, companies can increase productivity, lower their tech- nology costs, and reduce their reliance on manual labor. At the FT Global Pharmaceutical and Biotechnol- og y Conference in London, which occurred in No- vember 2022, staffing challenges were top of mind for the attendees. During the conference, there was much discussion about the difficulties of retaining talent in life sciences, particularly in PV. With new safety risks constantly emerging and new methods of locating and identifying them, PV positions need candidates with applied experience and the ability to understand the significance of a safety signal amid real-world market feedback. Additionally, even as data volumes are increasing, the offshore cost-savings model has plateaued with Pharmacovigilance Automation Updesh Dosanjh is a practice leader for technology solutions at IQVIA. Organizations can better understand the maturity of AI-driven automation technology across their organization's IT landscape through effective pharmacovigilance.