AI is not expensive, is simple & fast, increasingly being used in Sales,
Marketing and Manufacturing in Pharma Industry
Using AI customized personalized vaccine development has become possible
Pre-Conference Workshop during 8th Pakistan Pharma Summit
KARACHI: Mr. Jim Harris, an expert in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Generative AI, and Disruptive Innovations. as well as a bestselling author and one of the top-rated speakers from North America was the guest speaker at a pre-conference workshop titled “AI and the Future of Pharma”, held during the recently concluded 8th Pakistan Pharma Summit.
Mr. Jim Harris an eminent expert on AI, Gen AI and Disruptive Innovation who conducted a workshop on “AI and the future of Pharma” at Karachi on September 23rd 2025 photographed with Dr. Kaiser Waheed, Mr. Haroon Qassim Chairman & Vice Chairman of the Organizing Committee of 8th Pakistan Pharma Summit and Workshop participants.
Mr. Harris has conducted workshops and training sessions for executives across various organizations and countries. The workshop, organized by the Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA), was attended by selected participants from the pharmaceutical trade and industry, representing departments such as marketing, sales, manufacturing, and quality control. One of the workshop’s key features was its interactive format, with Mr. Harris actively engaging participants throughout the sessions.
During his presentations, Mr. Harris spoke in detail about several critical areas, including:
• AI and Personalized Medicine
• AI in Drug Discovery
• The potential elimination of major diseases within the next ten years
• Improvements in healthcare systems through AI
• Regulatory frameworks in uncertain times
He highlighted that AI is transforming the pharmaceutical industry at an unprecedented pace. “Chemists are now discussing the possibility of eliminating all major diseases within a decade,” he remarked. He noted the introduction of numerous AI tools, emphasizing that they are not expensive, simple to use, and remarkably fast.
AI is rapidly gaining traction in pharmaceutical sales, marketing, and manufacturing. Tools like the ChatGPT Voice App are revolutionizing how professionals work, enabling real-time translation into multiple languages within seconds.
Mr. Harris shared several groundbreaking developments, including:
• Early cancer detection through a simple blood test
• Gene sequencing of tumors becoming more accessible and affordable
• The future potential to vaccinate people against certain cancers
• Use of early data and AI to develop cancer vaccines and initiate treatment within just 48 hours
He further explained that AI now makes customized and personalized vaccine development possible. Missed medical appointments can lead to serious consequences and increased costs. AI is helping solve this by enabling flexible scheduling—evening and weekend appointments—which is especially beneficial for working mothers.
Mr. Jim Harris and Mr. Haroon Qassim and Dr. Kaiser Waheed speaking at the Pre-conference Workshop on “AI and the future of Pharma” organized by PPMA at Karachi on September 23rd 2025.
Mr. Harris emphasized AI’s vast reach, stating that thousands of AI applications are already in use. Its adoption across industries is significant:
• IT: 73%
• Finance: 70%
• Sales: 67%
• Operations: 65%
• Human Resources: 57%
• Marketing: 56%
• Supply Chain: 43%
• Legal: 46%
He noted a tenfold increase in coding productivity due to AI. Reflecting on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Harris pointed out how the drug development timeline was dramatically reduced—from 8–10 years to just 11–12 months—leading to the swift rollout of COVID-19 vaccines. Regulatory procedures were also fast-tracked globally.
In China, 400,000 patients now use AI to consult with doctors. Telemedicine allows immediate virtual consultations and rapid test result delivery. In Singapore, telemedicine booths operate 24/7, staffed by doctors, where patients can even provide urine samples and receive test results on the spot—for a small additional fee.
AI also helps detect drug-drug interactions, and has enabled pre-cancerous polyp detection and the advent of personalized precision medicine. The cost of gene sequencing has dropped significantly—to just $100 per human genome, making personalized vaccines more accessible.
Mr. Harris also highlighted the fact that technology has progressed so much that : “In the 1980s, we had to spend thousands of dollars to access services that are now readily available on a smartphone. The medicalization of the smartphone has truly sparked a healthcare revolution.”
Mr. Jim Harris posed three thought-provoking questions to the participants, asking them to form small groups, discuss the questions, and present their insights:
- What has been the most surprising aspect so far?
- What will have the greatest impact on your firm and the pharmaceutical industry as a whole?
- What will you do differently going forward?
The feedback from participants was highly encouraging. Representatives from different groups highlighted various perspectives. One group noted that the most surprising developments were the acceleration of genome sequencing, time savings, improved accuracy, and significant cost reductions.
A notable example shared was from a trauma center, where AI could scan a patient while they are still on the stretcher. A provisional diagnosis could then be made even before the patient reaches the emergency department, allowing for immediate treatment and minimizing errors. AI can also be effectively used in forecasting, sales, and supply chain optimization.
However, the importance of developing local medical data was strongly emphasized. Currently, most patient treatment is based on datasets generated in Europe and the U.S. Participants agreed that data should reflect the diseases prevalent in Pakistan. AI can significantly aid in drug development, changing the entire process and making faster drug discovery a reality.
Another key insight was that patients today are more informed and educated. However, there is a pressing need to use AI for education and training—this must be a top priority.
In our group, after thorough internal discussion, we decided to ask ChatGPT the same three questions. It provided detailed responses instantly, which we shared with the speaker, who appreciated our use of AI during the session.
Mr. Harris further encouraged participants to explore how AI can be integrated into their workflows. For instance, AI can be used for predictive maintenance—predicting brake failure in vehicles weeks in advance, thereby preventing accidents and reducing the need for maintaining large inventories of spare parts.
He highlighted AI’s potential in medical diagnostics, such as identifying drug-drug interactions and offering faster solutions. However, he cautioned that symptoms can overlap across various diseases, so differential diagnosis is crucial. While AI helps accelerate the process, quality local data remains critical. AI should be trained on local datasets, not solely on Western data.
Participants acknowledged that decision-making based solely on U.S. or European data could be misleading. Therefore, prompt engineering—crafting high-quality prompts—is essential. Training in prompt engineering and investment in these tools was strongly recommended.
Some participants expressed concern that AI could encourage self-medication, which might lead to dangerous outcomes. Patients may input symptoms and receive treatment suggestions without understanding the complexities involved—like how a cough could be a symptom of many conditions. Medications also come with side effects.
Mr. Harris shared that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the University of Cambridge developed a Sound App to detect COVID symptoms, enabling faster diagnosis. AI is also being used for retinal examinations. He acknowledged that AI-based diagnoses can sometimes be compromised. However, AI systems are now capable of taking patient histories and gathering information before they even see a doctor—helping to streamline the diagnostic process. This could also introduce a level of accountability among doctors.
He pointed out that approximately 2.5 million people in the U.S. are hospitalized annually due to adverse drug reactions, and that the use of AI could help reduce such cases. As AI adoption accelerates, it will inevitably transform the pharmaceutical industry. While the generic drug market will remain strong, personalized medicine will gain ground—expected to account for about 20% of all treatments in the future.
One participant shared finding from a survey on how doctors are briefed about new drugs. It was observed that e-detailing using laptops was less impactful than personal interactions where representatives leave product folders behind, which doctors tend to review later. This opens up opportunities to enhance e-detailing methods.
Mr. Harris noted that over 7,000 scientific papers are published daily, making it impossible for doctors to stay updated. With AI, summaries of these papers can be generated in minutes. Doctors are increasingly relying on online resources, including training content on platforms like YouTube. Large Language Models (LLMs) compile this information, making it accessible and efficient.
Participants discussed the potential risks of patients relying too heavily on AI. However, having access to more information generally leads to better health outcomes. AI empowers patients to make better-informed decisions. For example, a patient with bone cancer might question whether surgery is the best treatment option. In such cases, AI offers a second opinion, making patients more confident in their choices. Still, doctors must ensure their role is not diminished.
Mr. Harris stressed that AI is one of the most powerful learning tools available today. It can be personalized for students, and training costs have significantly decreased, making it more affordable. AI saves time, but learning how to use it effectively is essential. Upskilling and reskilling the workforce is vital.
Interestingly, Mr. Harris mentioned that low performers often achieve the best results using AI. However, some countries are now discouraging the use of computers and AI in schools, raising questions about how best to integrate these tools. He also highlighted the potential for reverse mentoring, where younger, tech-savvy employees train senior staff. “Humility is the first virtue of leadership,” he quoted, a popular saying in Silicon Valley. He further added, “Speed is God, Time is the Devil.” He explained that single-gene diseases can now be eliminated by gene replacement, though conditions involving multiple gene defects remain challenging. However, he cautioned that bad actors can misuse AI, and we must stay vigilant. AI should be used responsibly—for staff training, for instance. Families should also adopt safe words to guard against potential AI-related impersonation threats.
He emphasized that technological innovation is driving down costs, especially in healthcare. Crises like COVID-19 accelerated digital transformation. Tools like Otter.ai are now routinely used for transcription, and diagnostic costs have reduced thanks to AI.
AI has significantly impacted automobile manufacturing, where processes like wheel changes now take minutes rather than hours. In healthcare, AI-powered drones are being used to transport organs between hospitals.
The session also touched upon emotional intelligence and different types of innovations that deliver 90% of value:
• Business Model Innovation
• Policy and Societal Innovation
• Business Process Innovation
• Services Innovation
• Product Innovation
Continuing Mr. Harris highlighted the importance of therapy adherence. Tools like pill boxes and WhatsApp reminders are now being used to reduce treatment discontinuation and ensure timely appointments.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, hundreds of thousands of nurses quit their jobs, and many doctors opted for early retirement. This led to a severe shortage of nursing staff. In response, hospital administrations trained some administrative personnel to handle tasks previously performed by nurses, such as data entry and documentation. As a result, many nurses lost their jobs. “You can certainly deliver better healthcare in Pakistan using various AI applications,” he concluded.
Mr. Kaiser Waheed, Chairman of the 8th Pharma Summit Organizing Committee, said in his concluding address that the PPMA is working diligently on human resource development by organizing professional training to help bring Pakistan’s pharmaceutical industry up to international standards. Currently, about eight pharmaceutical companies in Pakistan have received international accreditation from both PICS and the WHO.
“For the past four years, we have been discussing AI and robotics in these workshops and conferences. This is the future,” he said. He urged participants to begin implementing such technologies in their organizations, stating, “One day, we will reach our destination.”
“We, the owners and entrepreneurs, are often unaware of what is happening inside our drug manufacturing plants. It is you—the technical personnel—who understand the processes far better. You should learn these new skills and use them efficiently to improve quality and accelerate production.”
Earlier, Mr. Haroon Qasim, Co-Chairman of the Organizing Committee, introduced the guest speaker and expressed his gratitude to Dr. Kaiser Waheed, under whose patronage these workshops and conferences continue to be held regularly.
