Will the next biotech breakthrough be digital before it’s biological with Bibi Ephraim
From Tech Tomorrow by Zühlke
October 28, 2025 · 28 min · Episode 19
About this episode
This episode discusses how AI is transforming biotechnology and the implications for drug discovery and clinical trials.
AI is transforming biotechnology from the inside out. What was once a world of petri dishes and pipettes is now increasingly powered by algorithms, models, and digital twins. But as machine learning accelerates drug discovery and reshapes clinical trials, how far can we go before biology itself becomes the follower, not the leader? In this episode of Tech Tomorrow , David Elliman speaks with Bibi Ephraim, Head of Digital Sciences at Genentech, about how artificial intelligence is redefining the biotech landscape. They explore how data-driven approaches are rapidly compressing timelines in drug discovery, enabling precision medicine, and even simulating virtual clinical trials. They also tackle the cultural and organisational transformations needed to make digital biotech work; from breaking down data silos and fostering collaboration across competitors, to treating data as a product and investing in strong governance. Drawing parallels with digital transformation in other industries, they ask what it will take for biotech to move from project-based to product-based innovation, and why pre-competitive collaboration could unlock the next generation of cures. Episode Highlights…
People in this episode
Host: David Elliman
Guest: Bibi Ephraim
Topics covered
- biotechnology
- artificial intelligence
- drug discovery
- digital transformation
- precision medicine
- clinical trials
Keywords
- biotech
- AI
- digital twins
- data-driven
- clinical trials
- precision medicine
- drug discovery
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Genentech
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