Introduction
The pharmaceutical industry has traditionally been challenged by the so-called “10-10 rule” — an average ten-year duration and approximately one billion US dollars to bring a drug from concept to market, with success rates below 10%. The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) technology marks a turning point towards optimizing this process. AI-driven models promise enhanced efficiency in drug discovery, formulation design, process optimization, and clinical application, potentially reshaping the entire pharmaceutical development pipeline. This article critically reviews the current state and future potential of AI in pharmaceutical R&D, with a focus on intelligent formulation development, clinical trial optimization, and strategic industry shifts, highlighting especially the Chinese landscape.
