Can AI Point the Way?

Chronicling the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in the biopharma industry has become, almost organically, a content-rich coverage “beat” here at Pharmaceutical Executive for the last year or two. From AI-focused Q&As and videos online to astute thought leadership across print and digital, we’ve taken pride in delivering deep dives into AI’s practical application. Whether in drug discovery and R&D or manufacturing, commercial, etc. The September issue of Pharm Exec warrants another callout to this convergence.

One of our guest columnists, for example, outlines a step-by-step framework for moving from successful AI experiments to the realm of true enterprise value—and solving that “85% challenge of business adaptation and integration.” Separately, we also explore AI’s ability to identify—and understand—both key and digital opinion leaders, helping to bolster those critical relationships for brands.

But, most notably this month, is a special spotlight and perspective on the topic as captured in our wide-ranging interview with Sanofi CEO Paul Hudson. Most Big Pharmas, today, view AI as a strategic priority, but perhaps none have been more outspoken in their digital mission than Hudson-led Sanofi. In the cover profile by Group Managing Editor Michael Christel, learn how the drugmaker is standing out from the pack in AI.

Not mentioned in the feature is an interesting insight Hudson conveyed to Christel about the future of modern innovation. The Sanofi CEO, who, with Bill Gates, co-chairs the Gates Foundation CEO Roundtable to boost global medicine access, remembers the tech visionary predicting that all the innovation accumulated over the last 100 years—the impact and volume—will occur on that same scale in just the next five years.

If indeed true, for pursuits in the life sciences, it will be fascinating to watch just how much AI can help trap lightning in a bottle—and translate that window of innovation into the breakthrough treatments of tomorrow. We’ll be here to capture it all.

Thanks for reading.

Mike Hennessy Jr. is Chairman and CEO of MJH Life Sciences