From your social media feeds to your washing machines (yes, seriously), it seems that there is no escape from artificial intelligence. The pharmaceutical industry is no exception.
What started as experimental pilot projects is now reshaping how drugs are discovered, developed, manufactured and marketed. In just a few short years, AI has moved into the core operating systems of some of the world’s largest pharma companies and their partners.
From designing drug products and predicting supply chain disruptions to accelerating regulatory writing (and even generating artificial influencers), the pace and scope of AI adoption are ramping up fast.
But what’s actually happening with the adoption of AI, and what does it mean for the pharma outsourcing sector?
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Across the industry, AI is being hardwired into drug discovery workflows. At Johnson & Johnson, deep-learning algorithms are already reviewing diagnostic images to pre-screen patients for clinical trials to enable faster, data-driven recruitment.
Another company, Genentech, is using “lab-in-the-loop” systems, where AI actively guides molecular experiments in real time, creating a feedback loop that strengthens predictions to complement and guide future experiments.
Meanwhile, Boehringer Ingelheim is simulating clinical trial outcomes using digital twins, reducing reliance on placebo groups and helping accelerate trial timelines and minimize patient burden without sacrificing data quality.
McKinsey – How pharma is rewriting the AI playbook
The move toward ‘smart factories’ is no longer theoretical. Companies like Biogen and Sanofi are already aiming to achieve end-to-end, AI-optimized manufacturing, controlling everything from fill-finish operations to predictive quality checks in real time.
At ElevateBio, AI is powering robots designed to navigate manufacturing spaces autonomously, helping to automate the most labour-intensive processes in cell and gene therapy production.
However, companies have warned investors that this rapid reliance on AI tools could expose them to potential risks, such as system failures, shutdowns and cybersecurity threats, making it essential to remain vigilant by building in safeguards that ensure integrity and safety.
Biospace: Drug manufacturers see long-term opportunity in climbing AI use
With restrictions growing around TV and traditional advertising, some pharma companies are turning their attention to influencer marketing. In some cases, these influencers are entirely built using AI.
Eversana has a new AI platform designed to generate marketing campaigns, assets and even synthetic personalities, promising to deliver a year’s worth of creative work in minutes.
For brands under pressure to do more with less, it’s a compelling offer. But in an industry where quality, credibility and trust are paramount, this approach raises red flags that cannot be ignored.
The FDA and FTC are closely watching how AI-generated content is disclosed, particularly around safety messaging and public trust. If that trust erodes, so does the campaign, along with the brand behind it.
Pharmavoice: Is that pharma influencer human or AI?
As the pharma industry embraces AI to help speed up trials, automate production and personalize marketing, we’re asking the same questions: where can it help and where do humans matter most?
At ramarketing, AI isn’t replacing what we do; it’s helping us do it better. It’s helping us streamline workflows, enhance creativity and deepen strategic thinking not just for ourselves, but for the life science companies we support.
By combining intelligent tools with deep sector knowledge and a commitment to ethical practices, we help our clients stay ahead while keeping people at the centre and upholding the highest standards of trust, integrity and responsibility.
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