A quantum generative model for in silico clinical trials using scarce training datasets

Abstract

In silico methods have emerged as a strategy to complement clinical trials. These are particularly relevant for rare or heterogeneous diseases for which traditional methods are costly or difficult to apply. While classical generative models have shown an extremely good ability to generate high fidelity data when trained using extensive databases, they often struggle when the available samples for training are scarce. In this work, we leverage the potential of quantum computers to represent complex probability distributions to generate high fidelity in silico patients. We propose a pipeline able to combine asymmetric databases into a quantum circuit that serves as a quantum generative model. We evaluate the efficacy of our proposal using a database of Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) patients with 7 clinical variables as a proof-of-concept. We executed our quantum generative model in the IBM Heron r2 ``ibm\_basquecountry'' superconducting quantum computer and compare our method with well known classical baselines. Our results show that the quantum generative model surpasses the classical generative models in generalization and expressivity metrics, indicating its potential validity to generate high fidelity in silico patients for clinical trials.