LFF’s Statement to the European Medicines Agency regarding Annex 22

Last week, the LFF consortium submitted a statement to the EMA, jointly voicing concerns about the regulation of artificial intelligence in the field. The decision to issue the statement was made during the LFF Steering Group meeting held alongside the consortium gathering on 17 September.

We decided to issue a joint statement because we support transparency, openness, and case-by-case evaluation in this matter. Blanket bans do not, in any way, serve the interests of the European life sciences sector in this context.

The statement sent to the EMA was as follows:

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The LifeFactFuture consortium would like to express a deep concern for the way in which the AI regulation suggested by the Annex 22 potentially hinders the development of the life sciences and pharmaceutical industry. We assess that these proposals set the R&D organisations and companies operating in European life sciences and pharmaceutical industry in a significantly weaker competitive position compared to the organisations and companies in other regions, such as USA.

We would, instead, endorse a future AI regulation that aims towards an even competitive position for the European industry by opening possibilities for utilisation of AI for research and development operations in the industry. We are against black and white categorical bans, and would instead go for direction that enables building of new knowledge, innovations and organisational practices via considered, ethically sound and transparent use of AI.

Sincerely,
LifeFactFuture consortium, Finland
https://sites.utu.fi/lifefactfuture/consortium/

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