Sanofi & Medidata Deepen AI Partnership to Accelerate Clinical Trials

NEW YORK, NY – October 28, 2025

A Decade of Collaboration Evolves

Sanofi and Medidata, a Dassault Systèmes brand, are significantly expanding their long-standing partnership, leveraging Medidata’s AI-powered ‘Experiences’ platform to accelerate clinical trial development and increase efficiency. The expanded collaboration, building on over a decade of work together, signals a growing industry trend toward unified data platforms and artificial intelligence to navigate the complexities of modern drug development. The move underscores Sanofi's commitment to digital transformation and embracing innovative technologies to improve the speed and success rates of clinical programs.

“The pharmaceutical industry is at an inflection point,” notes one industry analyst. “Companies are realizing that simply running more trials isn’t the answer. They need to run smarter trials, and that requires leveraging data and AI to optimize every stage of the process.” Sanofi’s decision to deepen its partnership with Medidata reflects this recognition, aiming to streamline operations, reduce costs, and ultimately bring new therapies to patients faster.

The Power of AI and Unified Data

At the heart of the expanded collaboration is Medidata’s ‘Experiences’ platform, an integrated suite of solutions designed to connect and optimize clinical trial processes from protocol design to data analysis. The platform’s AI capabilities, particularly its Acorn AI suite, are expected to play a critical role in several key areas. These include intelligent study design, predictive analytics to identify potential risks and optimize resource allocation, and advanced data quality control.

“Historically, clinical trial data has been siloed and difficult to analyze,” explains another industry source. “Medidata’s platform aims to break down those silos and create a single source of truth for clinical data, enabling more efficient analysis and decision-making.” The platform's ability to integrate data from disparate sources and apply AI algorithms is seen as a major advantage, potentially allowing Sanofi to identify patterns and insights that would otherwise be missed. The use of AI is not just about speeding up processes; it's about improving the quality of data and reducing the risk of errors.

Decentralized Trials: A Growing Priority

The partnership is also heavily focused on facilitating decentralized clinical trials (DCTs). With growing pressure to improve patient access and reduce the burden of participation, DCTs are rapidly gaining traction. Medidata’s platform offers a range of tools to support DCTs, including eConsent, electronic patient-reported outcomes (ePRO), and remote monitoring capabilities.

“DCTs are no longer a niche concept; they're becoming increasingly mainstream,” states a clinical research professional. “Patients are demanding more convenient and flexible options for participating in clinical trials, and DCTs offer a way to meet those needs.” Sanofi’s commitment to DCTs reflects its patient-centric approach and its desire to improve diversity and inclusion in clinical research. By leveraging Medidata’s platform, Sanofi aims to reduce barriers to participation and reach a wider range of patients, particularly those in underserved communities.

However, the shift to DCTs isn't without challenges. Ensuring data integrity, maintaining patient privacy, and navigating varying regulatory requirements are all critical considerations. The companies will need to work closely to address these challenges and ensure that DCTs are conducted safely and ethically.

Sanofi’s Digital Transformation Strategy

The expanded partnership with Medidata is just one piece of Sanofi’s broader digital transformation strategy. The company has been investing heavily in digital technologies across its entire value chain, from research and development to manufacturing and commercialization.

“Sanofi recognizes that digital transformation is essential for staying competitive in the pharmaceutical industry,” notes one financial analyst. “The company is committed to leveraging data and AI to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and drive innovation.” The partnership with Medidata is expected to accelerate Sanofi’s digital transformation efforts and deliver significant benefits across its clinical development pipeline. One key area of focus is improving the speed and efficiency of clinical trial recruitment, which has historically been a major bottleneck in drug development.

The move also aligns with a broader industry trend towards more agile and data-driven drug development processes. Companies are increasingly adopting cloud-based platforms and AI technologies to accelerate innovation and respond more quickly to changing market needs.