AI Accelerating Drug Development and Approval Processes, Says SFDA CEO

Chief Executive Officer of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) Dr. Hisham Aljadhey stated that artificial intelligence plays a vital role in accelerating the delivery of medications, as it contributes to drug discovery, development, and clinical trial simulations, significantly reducing development timelines and costs.
 During a session at the Global Labor Market Conference focusing on human progress and the future of work, Dr. Aljadhey noted that artificial intelligence will enhance approval processes for medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and food products, increasing regulatory flexibility in dealing with innovation.
 He explained that the SFDA’s Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (SAIL) integrates relevant technological innovations, adding that the authority is also developing a “digital twin” to support regulatory work by comparing its outputs against traditional workflows.
 Dr. Aljadhey emphasized that artificial intelligence will contribute to boosting the economy and public health, improving operational efficiency, and enabling employees to focus on higher-value tasks such as critical thinking and advanced training.