Client issue
A leading pharmaceutical R&D company developed a prototype artificial intelligence (AI) model to assess inflammatory bowel disease severity, with an initial focus on ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. The company wanted to understand whether the technology addressed a meaningful unmet need for gastroenterologists and could offer enough practical utility to warrant use in clinical settings.
The client needed to learn how clinicians would evaluate the AI model, including its ability to improve objectivity, reinforce clinical findings, support treatment decisions, and fit into established workflows. Because endoscopy was already viewed as effective, the AI model would have to demonstrate a clear advantage over current practice.
CRA approach
Charles River Associates’ Life Sciences team conducted a market opportunity assessment for the AI model. The team reviewed the market landscape and conducted primary research with gastroenterology specialists to better understand unmet needs, likely use cases, perceived benefits, and barriers to routine use, with the goal of sharpening the technology’s positioning.
Client impact
Charles River Associates’ Life Sciences team’s work gave the client a clearer view of the AI model’s commercial potential and the conditions needed for successful clinical uptake. The assessment helped separate general interest in the technology from the practical requirements physicians would expect before using it in routine care. The analysis also helped the client identify how to frame the technology’s role, where stronger validation would matter most, and what support clinicians would need for training, onboarding, and workflow integration.
