Synthetic datasets, which replicate the statistical patterns of real patient populations but carry no risk of privacy disclosures, are becoming part of the vernacular of the pharmaceutical development and real-world evidence landscape.
Validation Issues Could Dull Synthetic Data Benefits
Is it real, or is it synthetic? When it comes to drug development data in the future, the answer could be the latter. Datasets that replicate the statistical patterns of real patient populations but carry no risk of privacy disclosures could enable the use of synthetic control arms. However, the biopharma industry and regulators will need assurance that these datasets accurately reflect the population from which they were derived.

More from Innovation
AI-related deal activitiy in the first quarter of 2025 was punctuated by a last-minute $600m raise for Isomorphic Labs.
The process of manufacturing medicines can often be complex, expensive and harmful to the environment. Initiatives like RESILIENCE UK are seeking to simplify this process, utilizing VR technology to create a more sustainable learning environment for both students and companies.
Antag CEO Joerg Moeller talked to In Vivo about the young company’s gilded roots, and how its GIP receptor antagonist asset will differentiate in the crowded obesity market.
Farideh Bischoff, chief medical officer of Heranova Lifesciences, discusses the urgent need for better diagnostic options and the latest innovations transforming care for endometriosis patients.
More from In Vivo
Despite the significant presence of East Asian professionals in the pharmaceutical industry, their representation in top leadership roles remains disproportionately low. This disparity can be attributed to cultural bias, limited access to influential networks, and systemic barriers within corporate structures.
The world’s biggest pharmaceutical companies mostly saw growth in 2024 but 2025 promises to be more of a mixed bag with headwinds including losses of exclusivity, Medicare Part D redesign and challenges in the Chinese market.
Farideh Bischoff, chief medical officer of Heranova Lifesciences, discusses the urgent need for better diagnostic options and the latest innovations transforming care for endometriosis patients.