Applying AI to All Stages of Drug Discovery and Development - The Impact on Patients' Lives

Applying AI to All Stages of Drug Discovery and Development - The Impact on Patients' Lives

A Discussion on the Human Impact of AI/ML in Cancer Research

With the exploding availability of omics data, the pharmaceutical industry has significantly increased investment in AI/ML technology to extract information to guide all aspects of R&D, from target identification, patient selection, and stratification to real-world evidence generation. When correctly applied, these investments result in not only accelerating business but also directly impacting human life. Sylvie Laquerre from Johnson & Johnson R&D (Janssen Pharmaceuticals) will discuss how AI/ML has helped her team to make a positive impact on peoples' lives.

Slyvie Laquerre, VP, Solid Tumor Targeted Therapy Disease Area Stronghold Lead, Oncology TA, Janssen Research & Development, LLC

Sylvie Laquerre, Ph.D. is Vice President, Solid Tumor Targeted Therapy (ST3) Disease Area Stronghold (DAS), Oncology Therapeutic Area, Janssen Research & Development, LLC, one of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson. In this role, Dr. Laquerre is responsible for the strategic direction and execution of the ST3 DAS portfolio from early drug discovery efforts through clinical development. During her tenure at Janssen, Dr. Laquerre advanced strong discovery and translational research to deliver a robust preclinical and clinical pipeline of novel targeted agents and immuno-stimulatory biologics. She contributed to discovery, development and approval of Balversa (FGFR inhibitor) and Rybrevant (Bispecific EGFR/cMET antibody). Under her supervision additional inhibitors and biologics have been discovered and are now under clinical development. Dr. Laquerre also contributed to multiple key collaborations and acquisitions to enhance the Janssen’s R&D portfolio.

Prior to joining Janssen, Dr. Laquerre led multiple programs at GSK in obesity, IBS and fibrosis and brought multiple oncology assets to the clinic, of which 2 were FDA approved (Tafinlar and Mekinist). Prior to GSK, Dr. Laquerre led a team at ViroPharma Inc. developing anti-viral agents in collaboration with the USA National Defense Department in response to potential bioterrorism warfare. Early on in her career, Dr Laquerre worked at Onyx Pharmaceutical, where she led the HSV oncolytic virus effort and armed replication competent adenovirus.

Caroline Phares, Senior Director, Health and Life Sciences, Domino Data Lab

Caroline Phares leads the Health and Life Sciences strategy for Domino Data Lab. Prior to Domino, she enjoyed 20 years of success at GSK as a business partner and technology leader in designing, delivering, and supporting innovative solutions across R&D. During her time at GSK, she was involved in collaborative efforts with other large pharmaceutical companies and has influenced industry trends in technology solutions to common problems and use cases. She is driven to pursue and implement positive, transformational change through scientific and technological progress, and enjoys applying modern tools and methodologies to problems which may have once seemed unsolvable.