Executive Summary: Revolutionising Lung Cancer Care with AI

In the face of the pressing challenge posed by lung cancer, a leading cause of cancer-related
mortality worldwide – Merck & Co., Inc. finds itself at a critical juncture. According to the
French National Cancer Institute, patients can endure up to a five-month wait between their
initial imaging examination and receiving their first treatment. This delay not only exacerbates
the emotional and physical toll on patients but also potentially worsens clinical outcomes. Given
this context, MSD is presented with a promising opportunity to pioneer a transformative
approach to lung cancer care, leveraging the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to
significantly shorten the diagnostic and treatment initiation timeline. The journey from lung
cancer suspicion to treatment presents multiple complexities and inefficiencies. Critical analysis
of this pathway reveals multifaceted challenges, including unequal access to diagnostic
resources, inconsistencies in specialist accessibility, and administrative obstacles, all leading to
intolerable wait times. Moreover, the heterogeneity of lung cancer cases necessitates a
personalised treatment approach, further complicating the care process. In addition, the
disparities in patient outcomes across different regions underscore a pressing need for equitable
healthcare delivery.

The AI-Based Solution: A Multidimensional Approach

To address these challenges, MSD should opt for an innovative AI-based framework designed to
streamline and optimise the lung cancer patient pathway. This solution is carried by three core
objectives, each leveraging a specific AI methodology.

1. Identifying diagnostic pain points through NLP: Natural Language Processing (NLP)
goes beyond simple keyword identification; it understands the context and nuances of
human language found in clinical notes and patient records. By applying NLP, we can
automatically sift through vast amounts of unstructured data to identify critical
information that might indicate difficulties in the diagnostic process. This could range
from identifying common symptoms that lead to successful diagnoses to flagging
inconsistencies in patient follow-ups, enabling us to streamline communication and
decision-making processes.
2. Divulge territorial and patient variations with unsupervised learning: Unsupervised
learning algorithms excel at detecting patterns and correlations in data without being
explicitly told what to look for. This technique will be applied to demographic,
geographic, and clinical data to uncover disparities in care delivery and access. For
instance, it could reveal that patients in certain regions are consistently experiencing
longer wait times for specific diagnostic tests, or it could identify subgroups of patients
who benefit from a particular treatment protocol, guiding us towards more equitable and
personalised care strategies.
 3. Building a predictive diagnosis journey algorithm via supervised learning: Supervised
learning involves training an AI model on a labelled dataset, where the outcomes are
known, to make predictions about new, unseen data. In the context of MSD's initiative,
we'll develop a model that can predict the timeline from lung cancer suspicion to
treatment initiation based on a variety of factors, including patient demographics, initial
symptoms, and testing pathways. This predictive capability allows healthcare providers to
anticipate delays and intervene earlier, ensuring that patients receive timely care.

This AI-driven initiative should be methodically implemented, starting with a trial program to
improve the technology and processes, followed by a broader expansion. Key to the success of
this project is the collaboration with AI technology firms for the development of algorithms and
the investment in training for healthcare professionals to ensure seamless adoption and utilisation
of these AI tools.

Anticipated outcomes from this revolutionary approach include:

● Substantial reduction in treatment initiation delays: By accelerating the diagnosis process

and enhancing the precision of treatment planning, MSD anticipates a significant
decrease in the time from lung cancer detection to treatment onset.
● Improved patient outcomes and experience: Early and accurate diagnosis, coupled with
personalised treatment strategies, is expected to markedly improve patient survival rates
and quality of life, while reducing the emotional burden associated with prolonged
uncertainty.
● Operational excellence and efficiency: The optimization of diagnostic and treatment
pathways through AI will result in more efficient use of resources, lowering operational
costs, and enabling healthcare providers to allocate more time to direct patient care.
● Advancement towards equitable healthcare: By identifying and addressing disparities in
treatment access, this initiative aims to ensure a more uniform standard of care,
regardless of geographical location or demographic factors.

In conclusion, the integration of AI technologies into the lung cancer care pathway represents a
pioneering leap forward for MSD in its mission to save and improve lives. This comprehensive,
AI-based approach not only addresses the immediate challenge of reducing diagnostic and
treatment initiation delays but also sets a new benchmark for personalised, efficient, and
equitable cancer care. By embracing the potential of AI, MSD is poised to lead a paradigm shift
in oncology, significantly improving the prognosis and quality of life for lung cancer patients
worldwide. This initiative not only aligns with MSD's commitment to innovation and excellence
in healthcare but also exemplifies the transformative power of technology in addressing some of
the most pressing challenges in medicine today.