Just Another COVID Trial... With Artificial Intelligence!

So many companies are underway on medications for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. BenevolentAI, a technology company headquartered in London, England, aims to use data and technology for medicines. From the name, it is clear this company uses artificial intelligence to help advance health. More specifically, in February, they set up a “specialist scientific team” to use their technology in drug discovery. Although possibly unconventional, AI evaluates the best possible medication to treat a disease based on the body of knowledge regarding a disease. In three days, the specialist scientific team input all the known characteristics surrounding the COVID-19 virus. Once all the known and relevant information is added, the AI platform seems to run a scan of all currently approved medications for its potential relevance in treating COVID-19. This scan took about one and a half hours to come up with the drug most compatible. The drug result was baricitinib sold under brand name Olumiant, a medication used for rheumatoid arthritis. It is thought that the anti-inflammatory and anti-viral properties provide high potential as many people die from the hyperinflammation occurring in the lungs. In March, patients started being treated with this medication but as of this month, the first large randomized control trial will begin in the United States and possibly expand to Europe and Asia. Investigators suspect first results in about 2 months. In summary, BenevolentAI is partnering with Eli Lilly to support this large trial beginning this month to assess this arthritis medication for severely ill COVID patients.