IBM has been granted a patent for machine learning models in predictive therapeutic indications and side effects from drug information sources. This technology aims at assisting pharmaceutical companies in advancing drug treatments in many forms.

The patent was granted to IBM Research as it implements cognitive machine learning to identify links in predicted therapeutic indications, side effects and visual analytics.

"As inventors at IBM, we have the opportunity to help solve real-world problems," said Jianying Hu, senior manager and program director at IBM's Center for Computational Health. "Our team is dedicated to this research and we continue to search for new ways to improve people's health around the world through innovation and invention."

The machine learning techniques developed by IBM are able to collect data from a wide range of sources and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of drug development. By improving the effectiveness and efficiency, the two main reasons for failed drug trials, the technology advances the path of drug discovery. These techniques can improve the areas of drug repurposing, indications expansion, drug safety and personalized medicine.