Artificial Intelligence (AI) has shifted from an experimental technology to an industry-wide operational tool across the pharmaceutical value chain. Companies are prioritising AI deployment in high-impact areas such as drug discovery, clinical trials and medical writing, where returns are most tangible. As confidence in AI’s commercial value strengthens, the technology is reshaping R&D economics, accelerating innovation cycles, and influencing competitive positioning across global biopharma markets, says GlobalData, a leading intelligence and productivity platform.
According to GlobalData’s State of the Biopharmaceutical Industry 2026 (Mid-Year Update), of the 157 pharmaceutical professionals surveyed*, 34% report function-specific AI deployment within their organisations, with a further 25% in pilots or proof-of-concept adoption.
Gaffar Aga, Pharma Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “The findings reflect an industry that is embedding AI where it delivers measurable value rather than instituting a general company-wide rollout. Drug discovery and target identification lead as the highest-value use case, cited by 59% of respondents, followed by clinical trial design and recruitment at 45%, and then medical writing at 41%.”
In drug discovery, AI is allowing researchers to search vast databases, identify potential targets, and assess safety and efficacy computationally before lab work begins, reducing timelines and costs. Researchers are utilising AI to analyse clinical records to optimise participant matching while designing recruitment strategies.
While AI’s role in discovery is still evolving, larger quantities of AI-driven drugs are expected to reach the pharmaceutical market, driven by accelerating technological advancements and robust regulatory frameworks. Leveraging AI for medical writing will streamline and speed up the production of documents like clinical study reports and regulatory submissions, areas where speed and accuracy directly affect how quickly drugs reach patients.
Aga continues: “Companies are not trying to transform everything at once; they are identifying the functions where AI already delivers a clear return on investment, with the ability to track impact and efficiencies.”
According to the survey, 31% of the pharmaceutical professionals forecast AI will increase R&D productivity by 11–20% over the next 12 months, with a further 30% expecting gains of 5–10%. On costs, 38% anticipate R&D cost reductions of 5–10%, with 22% expecting savings of 11–20%. High-profile collaborations like NVIDIA and Eli Lilly’s $1 billion AI co-innovation lab alongside established partnerships between major pharma companies and AI-driven drug discovery platforms are accelerating confidence in this technology.
Aga concludes: “Clear regional differences are emerging, with APAC respondents more optimistic on cost reductions while Europe remains the most conservative. These findings demonstrate that AI is already generating real-world impact, with companies continuing to embed AI-driven tools across wider operations.”
*GlobalData’s survey, which was fielded from 20 March to 20 April 2026, included a total of 157 GlobalData biopharmaceutical clients and prospects.
