At the Edge How a global biopharma is adopting an end-to-end AI transformation
Jul 26, 2025
Paul Hudson, CEO of Sanofi, leads the company’s push to embed agentic AI across drug discovery and operations. He discusses driving CEO-led transformation, real-time AI deployments that improve efficiency, partnerships and transversal datasets, using AI agents to reduce bias, and practical change-management steps for leaders.
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End to End AI Creates Real Competitive Advantage
- Going end to end on AI is a competitive advantage for a biopharma because many peers only run proofs or dabbles.
- Paul Hudson set leaders the challenge to disrupt their functions with agentic AI and redeployed ~€1bn in real time to accelerate adoption.
CEO Personally Drove €1 Billion AI Redeployment
- Paul Hudson refused to delegate AI solely to the CDO and instead personally accelerated investments and decisions.
- He redeployed nearly €1 billion, cut OPEX by ~80% (≈€1bn), and raised asset utilization >10 percentage points using AI tools in months.
AI Will Improve Drug Success Odds Not Replace Science
- AI won't replace end-to-end drug discovery imminently but will raise probabilities of success and efficiency.
- Hudson expects AI to shift failure rates (e.g., phase-one 90% failure) meaningfully—allowing more programs and faster patient impact.