Augmented R&D
Accelerating and de-risking pharmaceutical and medtech R&D programs through data, AI, and new forms of collaboration.
innovation projects delivered
AI projects in R&D
Who is it for? Pharmaceutical companies, biotechs, and medtechs looking to accelerate and de-risk their medical R&D by leveraging digital, data, and AI across the entire development cycle.
The Challenge
The average cost of developing a new drug now exceeds one billion euros, against a persistently high attrition rate at every phase. Facing this difficult economic equation, the pharmaceutical industry is looking to accelerate preclinical and clinical phases, better select promising molecules, and generate more robust evidence earlier in development.
Digital technologies — artificial intelligence, real-world data, digital twins, decentralized trials — offer concrete levers to address these challenges. The question is which ones to activate, in what order, and with which partners.
Our Approach
We support R&D leadership teams and clinical development groups in transforming their practices.
Identifying and prioritizing opportunities. We conduct technology landscaping and competitive analyses to identify the most promising approaches: AI-driven omics data analysis, augmented patient recruitment, protocol optimization. We help prioritize based on medical potential, operational feasibility, and expected return on investment.
Integrating real-world data (RWD/RWE). Real-world data — registries, hospital data, pharmacy claims — is becoming a strategic asset to complement evidence from clinical trials, anticipate HTA requirements, and build compelling reimbursement dossiers. We structure RWD strategies from the earliest development phases.
Decentralized and hybrid clinical trials. We advise on integrating digital tools into clinical protocols (ePRO, teleconsultations, connected devices) to improve recruitment, reduce dropout rates, and generate higher-quality data.
Our Results
Among our 150+ innovation projects, a significant number have focused on accelerating R&D programs — from oncology target selection to rare disease trial recruitment. Our collaborations with AI-specialized technology startups have helped shorten critical timelines and improve the quality of regulatory submissions.
Frequently asked questions
How do AI and digital accelerate medical R&D?
They come into play at every stage of the development cycle: accelerated identification of promising molecules through automated analysis of publications, patents, and clinical trials; optimized study design and e-recruitment; real-time monitoring and enriched patient data; and AI-assisted generation of regulatory submissions. The goal is to curb soaring costs and lengthening timelines, at a time when one in two drugs fails to cover its development costs.
What are the main challenges of medical R&D for pharmaceutical companies?
Accelerating the development of drugs and medical devices, reducing rapidly rising costs and lengthening timelines, and meeting increasingly strict regulatory requirements for market authorization. Medical R&D remains the core of pharmaceutical innovation, but its economic equation demands better molecule selection and more robust evidence generated earlier.
How does an R&D consulting engagement with Digital Pharma Lab begin?
With an initial diagnostic and strategy phase to analyze your specific needs, identify innovation opportunities, regulatory hurdles, and market challenges. This is followed by a co-construction and experimentation phase to test and validate solutions with key stakeholders, then deployment and acceleration to ensure their adoption within the healthcare ecosystem.
