PathAI emerges as an enterprise transforming clinical trials with groundbreaking precision in the dynamic field of AI-driven pathology. Ben Glass, VP of Product and Translational Research, and Saumya Pant, Vice President of Clinical Development Services and Biopharma Laboratory, discuss how PathAI’s innovative use of AI in pathology is not just enhancing the accuracy of diagnoses but reshaping the entire clinical trial process. Their collaborative efforts with biopharma and research institutions, coupled with a deep understanding of regulatory and ethical considerations, position PathAI as a catalyst for a new era in medical research that promises to accelerate the development of life-saving therapies with unparalleled efficacy and patient safety.
Moe: Can you describe PathAI’s approach to innovation in clinical trials and the challenges you’re addressing?
Ben: PathAI’s approach to innovation within clinical trials is deeply rooted in integrating artificial intelligence to transform the landscape of pathology, a field pivotal to the success and integrity of clinical research. By leveraging AI technologies, PathAI aims to replicate and enhance the meticulous work traditionally performed by pathologists, thereby addressing several longstanding challenges in clinical trials. This includes automating complex analyses such as PD-L1 status determination and HER2 scoring,
which are critical tasks for clinical trial enrollment and endpoint analysis. Through automation, the vision is to increase the throughput of these essential analyses and elevate the consistency and accuracy of the results.Â
Moreover, our AI-driven methods introduce an unprecedented level of quality control that transcends conventional pathology’s capabilities. By identifying issues with tissue sectioning and staining—critical steps that can impact the interpretation of biopsy samples— our technology ensures that any anomalies are flagged for review, thus safeguarding against the potential misinterpretation of pathological data. This level of scrutiny is particularly vital in clinical trials, where the accuracy of every single data point can directly influence the trial’s outcome and, ultimately, patient care.Â
Moe: With the integration of digital pathology, how do you foresee the transformation of clinical trial workflows?
Saumya: Integrating digital pathology into clinical trial workflows heralds a transformation in how trials are conducted, offering a leap toward more efficient, accurate, and streamlined processes. Digital pathology facilitates a quantum leap in sample archiving and storage by shifting from traditional manual microscopy to digital slides. This digital transition ensures that high-resolution images of tissue samples are easily accessible and can be shared across global teams in real time, thereby eliminating geographical barriers and the logistical challenges associated with physical slide transportation. Moreover, this digital archive creates a permanent, easily retrievable repository of trial data, enhancing the
reproducibility and transparency of research. The ability to review directly on these digital slides further empowers pathologists, allowing for precise, collaborative analysis and consensus decision-making without physical presence, thus accelerating the central reading process and reducing timelines for trial phases.
Furthermore, digital pathology introduces advanced measurement and analysis tools that surpass the capabilities of manual examination, providing a level of accuracy and detail that was previously unattainable. These tools enable automated quantification of biomarkers, morphometric analysis, and complex pattern recognition, which can lead to the discovery of novel prognostic and predictive markers. This automation and standardization minimize human error and variability in interpretations, leading to more consistent and reliable outcomes. Consequently, patient enrollment in clinical trials becomes more targeted and efficient, as potential participants can be identified and stratified with greater precision based on the pathological assessment.
Moe: In collaborating with biopharma and research institutions, how is PathAI shaping the future of clinical trials?
Saumya: PathAI’s collaborations are intricately woven with the company’s deep-seated expertise in pathology, underpinning their commitment to advancing clinical trials across a spectrum of therapeutic areas. By focusing on domains that demand unparalleled precision and accuracy, such as oncology, metabolic diseases, and inflammatory conditions, PathAI leverages its state-of-the-art machine-learning technologies to uncover insights that were previously beyond reach. These collaborative efforts are not just about enhancing diagnostic precision; they are about reshaping the entire clinical trial landscape. Through partnerships with biopharma companies, PathAI’s innovations facilitate the identification of nuanced biomarkers and disease characteristics, enabling the development of targeted therapies that promise better patient outcomes.
Furthermore, PathAI’s role in these collaborations extends beyond technological innovation to include a consultative approach that enriches the design and execution of clinical trials. By bringing together leading pathologists, data scientists, and regulatory experts, PathAI ensures that each project is underpinned by robust scientific rigor and compliance with global standards. This interdisciplinary synergy accelerates the pace of clinical research and enhances its integrity, ensuring that trial results are reliable and actionable. Through these collaborations, PathAI’s contributions to clinical trials are a testament to the transformative power of marrying pathology expertise with advanced machine learning.
Moe: What are the key regulatory, ethical, and technical challenges in implementing AI in clinical trials, and how does PathAI address these?
Ben: Implementing artificial intelligence (AI) in clinical trials presents unique challenges, particularly data integrity and patient privacy. PathAI recognizes these challenges and has proactively developed comprehensive quality frameworks and compliance measures that are the foundation for their AI applications. These frameworks are meticulously designed to safeguard data at every step, ensuring that every piece of information processed through their systems is handled with the utmost care. Moreover, PathAI emphasizes de-identifying patient data, ensuring that personal health information (PHI) is removed or obscured to protect patient privacy. Their systems are engineered to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information, thereby maintaining the integrity and confidentiality of the data.
Additionally, PathAI is acutely aware of the critical importance of consent in clinical trials. This approach aligns with ethical standards and regulatory expectations across jurisdictions. PathAI actively engages with regulatory bodies to stay abreast of evolving guidelines and integrates these considerations into its operational and technological strategies. By doing so, we address the immediate challenges of implementing AI in clinical trials.
Moe Alsumidaie is Chief Editor of The Clinical Trial Vanguard. Moe holds decades of experience in the clinical trials industry. Moe also serves as Head of Research at CliniBiz and Chief Data Scientist at Annex Clinical Corporation.
