Sanofi's Drive Toward Digital Drugmaking
Sanofi has been steadily integrating digitization into its manufacturing and document processes. The company now expects artificial intelligence to cut development and manufacturing timelines by 25%. Since launching its goal to become a “digital healthcare company” in 2022, Sanofi aims to boost innovation and efficiency across R&D, manufacturing, and commercial operations by 2025.
Ariel Bismuth, Sanofi’s global digital head of manufacturing and supply, highlights the progress made at the company’s “digital lighthouse” plants located in Geel, Waterford, Scoppito, Toronto, and Hangzhou.
Smart Factories and AI-Driven Solutions
These lighthouse plants operate as connected smart factories, fully leveraging digitalization and automation. They serve as models for other sites to adopt AI-driven approaches such as predictive downtime optimization, adaptive process controls, in-silico bioprocess experimentation, and launch readiness simulation.
One example is Sanofi’s AI-powered analytics platform, SimplY. At the Belgium site, SimplY has identified opportunities to increase the output of Dupixent drug substance by 8% over the next three years. In addition, teams are developing a generative AI tool expected to produce around 5,000 annual reports on product quality and manufacturing science studies by mid-2026.
Since 2023, Sanofi has also employed Aily Labs’ plAI software to collect and analyze data from development, manufacturing, logistics, and commercial operations. The AI-driven platform helps identify supply chain improvements by uncovering root causes and delivering actionable insights to over 3,000 users.
Strengthening Digital Infrastructure
Beyond software, Sanofi has invested heavily in IT infrastructure to support its transformation into a digital drugmaker. Solid data foundations are critical for scaling AI effectively. The company has worked to ensure proper data access, privacy, and security, while optimizing the architecture that supports its operations.
This approach reconnects multiple data sources, revealing previously hidden information and providing richer context for AI systems.
Looking Ahead: Agile Digital Teams and Performance Goals
Sanofi plans to expand AI’s role in manufacturing by setting up eight to ten agile digital product teams. These teams will collaborate closely with manufacturing and supply digital lighthouses and launch teams. The target is to achieve 100% right-first-time product launches, reduce timelines by 25%, and improve network performance by 25%.
Key Takeaways for Operations Professionals
- AI and Automation: Leveraging AI platforms like SimplY and plAI can unlock efficiency gains in drug substance output and supply chain management.
- Data Infrastructure: Establishing strong data governance and architecture is essential to support AI initiatives and ensure secure, actionable insights.
- Agile Teams: Cross-functional digital teams enable faster adoption of AI tools and continuous improvement in manufacturing processes.
For operations leaders looking to advance AI skills relevant to manufacturing and supply chain optimization, exploring specialized training can be valuable. Resources for AI and automation courses can be found at Complete AI Training – Automation Courses.
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