Session Recap: How Technology Innovation Succeeds in Pharma: Key Takeaways from Stephen Cofone and Samuel Meyer at Future Pharma 2025
At Future Pharma 2025, Stephen Cofone, Head of Medical Affairs for IT, and Samuel Meyer, Tech Strategist at Bristol Myers Squibb, shared an insightful session titled "How Technology Innovation REALLY Succeeds in Pharma – from Gen AI to Everyday Hacks." This session provided pharma leaders with a deep dive into the practical skillsets, success factors, and value frameworks essential for harnessing technology innovation, especially generative AI, in the highly regulated and complex pharmaceutical landscape.
Key Takeaways
1. Skillsets are foundational to success
Skillsets, a combination of process understanding, collaboration skills, and technical expertise in cloud architecture, AI model management, and data, are crucial. Building these capabilities internally is more effective than relying only on vendors, allowing tailored technology integration into pharma workflows.
2. Process mapping reduces ambiguity
Clear mapping of current and future processes outlines desired changes and eliminates ambiguity. This ensures new technologies improve, not disrupt, core workflows like clinical trials or evidence generation.
3. Collaboration unlocks value
Inclusive, cross-functional teamwork is vital. Engaging stakeholders early, particularly those with business analyst skills, ensures smoother adoption and alignment across departments. Trust and shared ownership help overcome competing priorities.
4. Data quality and accessibility are critical
AI solutions rely on data quality. Pharma often faces challenges with silos and synthetic or narrow data, risking project failures. Implementing semantic layers and addressing data issues are necessary for successful AI use.
5. Change management drives adoption
Change management, through education, everyday use, and intuitive design, reduces resistance and increases user buy-in. Simple, user-friendly solutions are essential for adoption as technology often evokes excitement but also mistrust.
6. Modular, aligned teams accelerate progress
Modular, cross-functional teams with clear alignment and commitments encourage accountability and help prioritize innovation despite competing internal workloads.
7. A realistic value framework prevents overexpectations
A transparent value framework focusing on measurable, achievable goals, while accurately analyzing feasibility and overlap, helps avoid disappointment and AI project failures.
In Their Words
"People don’t yet trust AI. Getting people comfortable upfront, making it easy to use, and embedding it into everyday workflows has been key to our success."
— Stephen Cofone, Head of Medical Affairs for IT, Bristol Myers Squibb
Why It Matters
Pharma leaders face both rapid technology advances and strict regulatory environments. These session insights show that true success comes from combining technology with process knowledge, cross-team collaboration, and realistic change management. Leaders in life sciences must set achievable technology goals, invest in internal skillsets, and develop user-friendly solutions to realize the full impact of innovation.
Actionable Insights
- Build and develop internal technology and data skillsets tailored to pharma needs.
- Map and simplify existing processes before introducing new technologies.
- Involve cross-functional teams early and get documented commitments.
- Create transparent, realistic business value frameworks for new tech initiatives.
Explore What’s Next in Pharma
Eager for more future-facing strategies from Future Pharma? Learn more about the event or catch up on other keynotes for actionable ideas every pharma marketer needs.