Drugmakers turn to China AI apps to reach doctors

Drug manufacturers in China are embracing the rise of AI-powered digital assistants as a means to engage with healthcare professionals, following a crackdown on corruption that has made traditional methods of outreach more challenging. Companies such as Alibaba Health and JD Health have developed AI applications akin to ChatGPT, tailored specifically for medical practitioners.

These apps are being utilized by pharmaceutical firms to promote clinical evidence and products, potentially reducing the need for expensive marketing campaigns.

Alibaba Health's Hydrion app, for instance, is exploring a business model where promoted medical research and evidence could coexist with AI-generated responses to doctors' queries. The company's CTO, Wang Xiangzhi, indicated that drug manufacturers could leverage this platform to reach physicians more efficiently. Similar moves are being made by other firms, including JD Health and Yidu Tech, both of which have partnered with medical education companies to provide AI-driven tools to healthcare professionals.

In response to stricter regulations on pharma-company-doctor interactions, drugmakers are increasingly turning to digital channels for promotion. Frost & Sullivan predicts a compound annual growth rate of 27.5% in digital health marketing in China from 2027 to 2030, highlighting the potential for this new avenue of outreach. Medical education firms have also integrated AI apps into their offerings, aiming to provide drugmakers with targeted services for physician education and promotional activities.

Overall, the adoption of AI tools in China's medical community appears to be a promising development for both healthcare providers and pharmaceutical companies.