The Role of Pharmacists in Drug Development Using Artificial Intelligence: Systemic Review.

Abstract

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into drug development is transforming the pharmaceutical landscape, with pharmacists playing an increasingly pivotal role in this evolution. This systematic review, adhering to PRISMA 2020 guidelines, synthesizes 11 studies published between 2020 and 2025 to explore the roles of pharmacists in AI-driven drug development. Findings reveal that pharmacists contribute across multiple stages, including drug discovery, clinical trials, pharmacovigilance, and personalized medicine, by validating AI outputs, interpreting data, and ensuring clinical relevance. AI technologies such as machine learning and natural language processing enhance efficiency in target identification, toxicity prediction, and adverse event monitoring, while pharmacists bridge the gap between computational insights and patient-centered care. Despite challenges like data bias and ethical concerns, pharmacists emerge as essential collaborators in interdisciplinary teams, advocating for ethical AI use and data integrity. The review underscores the need for integrating AI competencies into pharmacy education to prepare future professionals for these expanded roles. Ultimately, pharmacists are not merely end-users but co-developers of AI tools, ensuring their safe and effective application in drug development.