Roche Cures Pharma Data Headache With LLMs

Pharmaceutical and biotech companies are not short of data. They are drowning in it.

That may appear to be good news, but not all information is created equally. The abundance of data often leads to insights inflation, where facts and figures are mistaken for true, actionable insights. This can hinder decision-making and slow down the innovation process.

Roche Pharma AG, with its long history of pioneering advancements in pharmaceutical and biotech, looked for a solution to this challenge. Christoph Petersen, capability lead for insights and analytics at Roche Pharma AG, explains, “We were looking for a proven and flexible solution, and that brought us to Stravito.”

A new brain is born

Brain42, developed in partnership with Stravito, is a user-friendly knowledge management platform that serves as a centralized hub for Roche’s internal stakeholders. The platform leverages AI and Large Language Models (LLMs) to provide accurate and relevant search results, even in German, Roche’s native language.

“It’s so important that we are good curators of information for our internal users,” says Petersen. “Brain42 is the answer to our questions. We want to make sure that people who look for insights go there and search for something. Then, either they find it or not. If they don’t find the information they want, they know for sure it’s not there. Users don’t have to scroll through pages of irrelevant information.”

The user-friendly Brain42 comes with the following features:

• AI-powered search: Brain42 utilizes AI and LLMs to deliver accurate and relevant search results, cutting through the noise and ensuring users can quickly find the information they need. The intuitive interface allows users to use it without technical expertise.
• Multilingual support: The platform supports multiple languages, including German, enabling Roche to manage its diverse knowledge base effectively.
• Centralized knowledge repository: The platform serves as a single source of truth for Roche’s internal stakeholders, ensuring everyone has access to the same up-to-date information.
• Enhanced collaboration: Brain42 fosters collaboration by providing a platform for users to share insights and knowledge, driving innovation and better decision-making.

The future of insights

Roche is committed to staying at the forefront of technological advancements in knowledge management. The company recognizes LLMs’ transformative potential in shaping the future of insights.

“We know we need to prepare ourselves for AI so that we can leverage the technology and focus on what matters most,” says Petersen. “And that is to have better insights in our collection.”

Roche also plans to incorporate social media-inspired features into Brain42, such as search queries, comments, and shares, to enhance the platform’s AI algorithms and improve search and chatbot capabilities.

Bottom line

Roche’s Brain42 platform is a major step forward for the pharmaceutical industry.

The industry is no stranger to using data science and AI. But by using LLMs, Brain42 helps pharmaceutical data science leaders effectively manage and leverage knowledge, combat inflation in insights, and drive innovation. It also offers a platform for pharmaceutical companies to access, share, and utilize information, ultimately leading to faster, better customer and market understanding.

The idea is that all this optimized information access will lead to new medical breakthroughs. And humans will be happier for it. 

Image credit: iStockphoto/RomoloTavani