The Future of OTC Healthcare
Words by Carlos Pichardo
Imagine walking into your local pharmacy with a nasty cold. As you browse the shelves for something to defeat the evil germs inside you, you notice a sleek, new device that looks right out of Men In Black.
The device promises to give a diagnosis based on analyzing your symptoms, recommend the best over-the-counter (OTC) treatment, and even track your recovery—all from a device that fits in the palm of your hand. This isn’t science fiction; it’s a glimpse into the future of healthcare.
The world of consumer healthcare is evolving rapidly, driven by digital innovations. Tools like wearables, data collection apps, and at-home diagnostics are paving the way for a new era of personalized OTC healthcare.
At yet2, we’re excited about being at the forefront of this transformation, scouting the latest technologies that are set to revolutionize how we manage our health!
Here are a couple of recent case studies on how AI and digital tools are changing healthcare with our clients:
Case Study 1: Scouting the Trend toward Personalizing OTC Solutions
You may have your favorite brand of ibuprofen but OTC solutions are typically not personal. yet2 is witnessing a trend that hopes to change this: the personalization of OTC solutions.
In a recent project, a healthcare client approached yet2 to identify cutting-edge digital tools that could be personalized for individual health needs. The focus was on finding diverse technologies that, when combined, could offer tailored health monitoring and interventions.
yet2 identified several promising solutions across different sectors. One of the standout technologies was a wearable device capable of tracking vital signs, physical activity, and sleep patterns. Similarly, there’s been an explosion of non-invasive tests that track similar biological functions through analyzing saliva or urine.
However, data-tracking wearables and at-home diagnostics have been on the market for some time. yet2 scouted an AI-driven analytics platform designed to process the data from such devices. This platform could analyze individual health metrics and predict potential health issues before they become critical, offering personalized insights and recommendations.
Though these technologies exist independently, yet2 sees the potential for their integration into a cohesive, personalized health management system. By combining these innovative tools, personalized digital health solutions can be tailored to provide comprehensive healthcare at home, whenever needed.
Though your annual doctor’s check-up will still be important, gone will be the days of checking WebMD to find out your sniffle and headache is a rare neurological illness.
Case Study 2: AI-Powered Ingredient Identification
A global leader in consumer goods approached yet2 seeking AI technologies that could support R&D in finding novel ingredients for medication. Finding novel ingredients is invaluable for creating medicines for illnesses currently unable to be cured.
The advent of AI has given researchers a new toolbox that is sure to speed up medical progress. yet2’s scouting revealed three powerful AI technologies sure to ramp up the discovery of new solutions: natural language processing, Causal AI, and Explainable AI.
Many companies yet2 scouted were already integrating natural language AI like Generative AI and Large Language Models (LLMs) to supplement their data collection and organization. Since researchers are working with a vast scientific literature, manually poring through it is a huge resource drain. With well-trained Generative AI and LLMs, relevant materials are cleanly marked and organized for easier consumption. However, this alone is insufficient for a research boom.
Causal AI models can take a data set and create novel connections. Essentially, they think in terms of cause and effect, the ways humans do. For models trained on accurate data points, Causal AI models can take the vast amount of available data and predict possible formulations and biological effects of novel drugs.
Explainable AI models make the complex decisions of AI models easier to grasp, enhancing trust in AI solutions. With these technologies available, there is a clear path ahead for the use of AI for research purposes. As such, it is likely new OTC solutions for a variety of issues are on the horizon.
With innovations like these, the future of OTC healthcare is not just about convenience; it’s about providing personalized, data-driven care that meets individual needs.
Healthcare Innovation
At yet2, we’re constantly scouting the latest innovations to help our clients stay ahead in the rapidly evolving world of digital healthcare. If you’re looking to explore cutting-edge technologies for personalized OTC solutions, contact us today to see how we can help you lead the charge into the future of consumer health.
Image by Bing AI