The Lens: Life Sciences Reinvention in Focus

Tom Lehmann and Matteo di Tommaso, SVP and Head of Research and Development IT, at Bristol-Myers Squibb, explore approaches to scale AI across drug development, discussing a predict-first mindset to human-led platforms driving real impact on how medicines reach patients.

Join Tom Lehmann and Petra Jantzer, Accenture's Global Life Sciences Lead, as they cover the highlights of 2025 and look forward to 2026. What's coming next for biopharma? Tune in for the trends and insights that will shape the future.  

Join Roy Helmy, Associate VP at Merck, as he explores what it takes to reinvent the lab from the ground up. From AI to end-to-end digital transformation of lab operations, Roy shares actionable insights on overcoming resistance and fostering collaboration, and why learning from failure is key to innovation. 

In this episode, host Tom Lehmann speaks with Sanjay Patel, Global Head of Innovation Capability Solutions & Services at Takeda, regarding how global collaboration and innovative leadership are reshaping the biotech landscape. Sanjay shares insights into the five-hub network he's building to strengthen Takeda's data, AI, and product-engineering capabilities through Innovation Capability Centers (ICCs). He discusses the impact of AI and emerging technologies, including Takeda's internal GenAI assistant "MyAibou," and how thoughtfully designed workspaces are helping overcome return-to-office fatigue. Tune in for candid lessons on scaling innovation, breaking silos, and keeping curiosity at the core—plus how patient-centered solutions like the "For You, With You: IBD" app are changing lives. 

Discover how digital innovation and Gen AI are reshaping pharma with Anvita Karara. Explore how patient-centricity, personalization, and responsible AI are driving better health outcomes and transforming engagement at scale. 

An episode with Tracy Ring, Accenture's Chief Data Officer and Global Generative AI Lead for Life Sciences explores how advanced AI, cognitive digital brains, and agentic systems are transforming business efficiency, trust, and customer interactions. 

A discussion with David Hole, Global Life Sciences T&O lead about how GenAI is transforming the life sciences workforce, emphasizing the need for new skills, ethical considerations, and the balance between democratization and governance. 

Matt Studney, from Merck's Research Laboratories Information Technology discusses AI's growing role in pharma and the need for responsible implementation to enhance health outcomes.

Explore how Genentech's digital cell and gene therapy innovation scales life-saving treatments. From virtual journeys to secure supply chains, learn about the tech and collaborations bringing new therapies safely to patients worldwide.

Just like the life sciences industry, the Driving Digital in Biopharma series has evolved. In each episode, we'll explore the way the industry is being reimagined and reinvented. If you're passionate about the future of medicines and medical technologies, improving patient outcomes and pushing the limits of innovation, The Lens is your essential listen. 

In this insightful episode of Driving Digital in Biopharma, host Tom Lehmann explores with Áine Hanly, Chief Technology Officer at Vir Biotechnology, the transformative role of data and technology in drug development and manufacturing. Áine delves into the advancements in data accessibility and automation, such as single-cell manipulation and high throughput processes, which have notably shortened cycle times and boosted efficiency. She also discusses the innovative use of the Vir AI tool Daisy for antibody design and optimization, which speeds up the process and enhances manufacturability. The episode wraps up by highlighting the critical importance of a robust data strategy and the power of cross-functional partnerships in fostering innovation and operational efficiency across the biopharma industry.

This episode of Driving Digital in Biopharma offers a peek into the digital revolution brewing in the biopharma labs, courtesy of Richard Milne, the Vice-president and general manager of Digital Science Solutions at Thermo Fisher Scientific. From e-commerce roots to pioneering digital science, Richard and Tom delve into the vision for laboratories, and the integration of artificial intelligence and automation in scientific research and lab operations. Their conversation highlights the critical role of digital strategies in enhancing productivity and accelerating scientific advancements. Richard also gives his insights on the future potential of automation and robotics in laboratories, alongside the challenges and opportunities that AI presents in revolutionizing the drug discovery process.

In this episode of "Driving Digital in Biopharma," host Tom Lehmann welcomes Morrey Atkinson, the Chief Technology and Operations Officer at Vertex Pharmaceuticals. With a rich background in process development and manufacturing within the pharmaceutical industry, Morrey shares his insights on Vertex's strategic evolution and its commitment to serial innovation through substantial investments in R&D. They discuss the company's modality-agnostic approach, which allows flexibility in tackling various diseases, as well as covering the strategic use of contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs) to optimize Vertex's global manufacturing footprint, ensuring rapid and reliable delivery of therapies to patients worldwide.  Listeners will gain a comprehensive understanding of how Vertex Pharmaceuticals leverages digital innovation to maintain its leadership in drug development and manufacturing, setting new standards in the biopharma industry. 

In this episode of the Driving Digital in Biopharma podcast, Samer Ansari, Head of Data, Digital, and Technology at Takeda Oncology, joins Tom Lehmann, Global Head of Accenture Life Sciences R&D, to discuss the role of digital in creating exceptional HCP and patient experiences. Through their shared passion for data and tech and the importance of using it to positively change not only the Life Sciences industry but also the lives of our loved ones, Samer and Tom explore how Takeda is leveraging data to create a meaningful impact on patients' experiences. We glimpse into the actions Samer and his team are taking around the globe, discuss how their organizational structure and innovation mindset create the opportunity for agility, and explore real-life applications of technology to improve patient outcomes. Samer emphasizes the need to balance investment choices with business expectations and ultimately showcase the impact of those investments, while always keeping the patient at heart. 

In this episode of Driving Digital in Biopharma, Accenture host, Tom Lehmann, speaks to Chris Braithwaite, Global Head of Drug Development, Digital and IT Novartis. Achieving digital transformation requires a delicate balance between traditional methods, rapidly emerging technology, and human decision-making. Chris encourages a shift in perspective and a focus on change management, emphasizing that working in a human+machine mode does not entail eliminating human roles. Instead, it involves developing comfort and knowledge regarding data and technology to enhance human potential and increase role effectiveness. By embracing digital tools and leveraging data, organizations can empower themselves to make informed decisions, drive adoption, and ultimately improve patient care.

In this episode of Driving Digital in Biopharma, Accenture host, Tom Lehmann, talks with Michel Rider, VP Digital, Analytics and Performance at GSK. Michel reflects on their multi-year quest to modernize digital, data, and analytics capabilities across Development – sharing insights for achieving near-term wins while planning for the future. There is a sense of urgency for patients seeking better, faster treatments. And this is a non-linear endeavor – iteration and evolution are a given. A compressed transformation approach combined with agile experimentation can deliver tangible benefits quickly and establish a foundation for future growth.

In this episode of Driving Digital in Biopharma, host Tom Lehmann talks with Jason Bronfeld, Head of Product Development IT at Bristol-Myers Squibb, about the industry re-perceiving itself and capitalizing on the power of digital.  When it comes to evolving ways of operating to an ever-better model for the future, a mindset shift is essential – digital is a means and not the end. The biopharma industry is viewed as knowledge-generating enterprises, and while ever-growing amounts of data present complex challenges, a strong digital core will fuel competitive advantages.

In this episode, Tom Lehmann talks with Natasha Kelly, a data scientist within Accenture's Applied Intelligence Group who focuses on advanced analytic solutions in life sciences manufacturing and supply chain. Tom and Natasha discuss the 2022 Life Sciences Technology Vision through a supply chain lens, delving into how each of the report's four trends ingrained in the metaverse are reshaping supply chain and operations experiences across the industry.

In this episode, Tom Lehmann talks with Accenture's Ross Wooddisse, Managing Director and Life Sciences R&D Lead in Europe, about the 2022 Life Sciences Technology Vision and what the Metaverse continuum means for Biopharma R&D. They discuss how science turns into medicine, a new generation of digital trial capabilities and the fundamental opportunity for the industry to move from disease management towards risk prediction and disease prevention.

In this episode Tom Lehmann talks with Shalu Chada, Managing Director and Accenture's Life Sciences Technology Lead, to discuss the 2022 Life Sciences Technology Vision and how each of the report's four trends ingrained in the metaverse are reshaping biopharma experiences of the future.

In this episode of Driving Digital in Biopharma, host Tom Lehmann talks with Anders Persson – Executive Director, Ecosystem Strategy & Innovation, AstraZeneca, about the role of digital and data in the transformation of global drug development and the value of an ecosystem and partnership strategy in R&D.

Tom Lehmann and Eddie Reilly, Chief regulatory officer and head of global regulatory affairs, Sanofi discuss delivering new therapies to patients more efficiently and how that's enabled by regulatory affairs - from standardizing data and harnessing AI to the more proficiently exchanging data with health authorities.

Host Tom Lehmann talks with Lars Fogh Iversen, Senior Vice Present for Digital Science & Innovation at Novo Nordisk. They discuss the journey to accelerate research and early development through laboratory automation, data management, AI and digital research.  

In Episode 11, host Tom Lehmann and guest Julie Huxley-Jones, GSK, discuss the mindset of scientific curiosity, innovation and collaboration and its role on the impact of digital in scientific discovery. They talk about the unique journey of digital in discovery research and how it's increasing productivity and innovation.

Savyon Amit talks with Tom Lehmann about AstraZeneca's aligned understanding of Digital Health and the importance of articulating the value of digital from an organizational standpoint as well as value to the broader healthcare ecosystem.

Tom Lehmann talks with Stephen Davies, VP, Eisai Enterprise Information Technology about Eisai's human health care philosophy. It's guiding innovation, shaping digital transformation and encouraging a holistic health care view by leveraging technology beyond traditional therapeutics.

In this episode Venkat Sethuraman, SVP Global Biometrics and Data Science, Bristol-Myers Squibb talks with Tom Lehmann about the critical role of data, design and digital in the future vision for R&D.

Host Tom Lehmann talks with Craig Lipset, a long-time advocate and inspiring innovator in the clinical research and medicine development community. Drawing on his role as co-convenor of the Decentralized Trials and Research Alliance (DTRA), a collaboration of over 120 member organizations, Craig discusses DTRA's ambitions and priorities for bringing greater accessibility to clinical trials and making decentralized clinical research methods the standard for the industry.

Tom Lehmann talks with Frances Taheri, Accenture Ventures Digital Health Lead, about the need for companies to enable their ecosystems to collaborate freely without compromising data security and privacy in the conclusion of our Life Sciences Tech Trends series.

Tom Lehmann talks again with David Hole about the "bring your own environment" (BYOE) model that will drive the industry's technology agenda in terms of connectivity, collaboration and the tools that enable them in part four of our Life Sciences Tech Trends series.

Tom Lehmann talks with David Hole, Accenture Life Sciences Talent and Organization Lead, about making technology accessible to all to put powerful capabilities in the hands of people across functions in part three of our Life Sciences Tech Trends series.

Tom Lehmann talks with Andy Greenberg, Accenture North America Digital Health Lead, about the therapeutic potential of massive, intelligent, digital twins in part two of our Life Sciences Tech Trends series.

Host Tom Lehmann begins this special series centered on the 2021 Life Sciences Technology Vision with Shalu Chadha, Accenture Life Sciences Technology Lead, about architecting a better future with technology stacks that are fluid across the ecosystem.

Host Tom Lehmann talks with John Kelleher, head of digital quality for Pfizer global supply. John shares insights on connecting learnings and impacts of a digital QA transformation pilot to a more holistic QC transformation initiative.

Debraj Dasgupta talks with Tom Lehmann about the building blocks and historic obstacles to a successful digital transformation in biopharma.

Tom Lehmann discusses tapping into digital to achieve greater patient-centricity with Jen Spada and Tina Ripperger.

Tom Lehmann discusses digital strategy and transformation wins with Guido Radack, Vice President, Strategic Initiatives Leader at Bayer.

Host Tom Lehmann talks with Kailash Swarna, global head of R&D digitalization strategy at NovoNordisk about data complexity, measuring digital value, keeping pace with the next generation of science and patient centricity.

In this premier episode of our new podcast series, host Tom Lehmann explores findings from our report on Digitalization in Biopharma R&D with one of the co-authors, Katie Miinch. Together, they unpack key insights and what the findings mean for companies today and into the future.