Ethical Considerations in AI-Driven Drug Development and Pharmaceutical Industry

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing drug development in the pharmaceutical industry by speeding up drug discovery, optimizing clinical trials and facilitating precision medicine. While these developments hold the promise of efficiency and innovation, these developments also bring intricate ethical issues. This chapter critically analyzes the nexus between AI and ethics within drug development, with a focus on the areas of data privacy, algorithmic bias, transparency, intellectual property, and gaps in regulations. Practical examples and case studies help us understand the implications of unregulated AI adoption. Several global and national regulatory agencies discussed along with Institutional review processes form the backbone for ethical verification and validation of results. The chapter outlines recommendations and ethical guidelines to aid responsible, explainable and collaborative AI adoption within the pharmaceutical industry. By reconciling innovation and accountability, it seeks to create a transparent and fair future for AI-driven drug development.