S&C Partners Rachel Yu and Bradley King, and associate Jack Baum, authored an article in Law360 discussing the legal, regulatory and practical considerations associated with using generative AI to enhance drug discovery. “First and foremost, prior to leveraging generative AI in drug discovery and development, companies should consider the practical question of use case selection,” they write. “The query is both a commercial and legal one.”
The authors highlight the introduction of new U.S. state privacy laws specific to AI and patent protection, as well as the developing legal and regulatory landscape surrounding AI, as key factors companies must keep abreast of when making decisions to integrate AI into their scientific research.
The authors also outline practical steps boards should consider in discharging their duty of oversight for corporate AI use:
- “First, directors of companies that rely heavily on AI for drug development should have an adequate understanding of how their critical AI models work, how they are integrated in company R&D operations and the potential risks posed by AI, including with respect to bias, lack of transparency, intellectual property rights and data privacy.”
- “Second, boards should consider whether appropriate oversight systems are in place—for instance, the National Institute of Standards and Technology's AI risk management framework—to monitor and mitigate risks related to AI.”
Read: “Maintaining Legal Compliance For GenAI In Life Sciences”