The Savoy, London · 12 and 13 May 2027
Faster to the clinic.Not yet better in it.
Who governs. · Who decides. · Who is accountable.
The gap · Discovery
AI is in discovery.The decision still needs an owner.
McKinsey's September 2026 analysis finds AI-enabled programmes reaching first-in-human milestones 15 to 80 percent faster than large pharma medians. IQVIA's 2026 R&D trends report puts their Phase I success at 75%, yet Phase II results match programmes built without AI. The question in London is where AI changes the decision in discovery and design, not only the speed.
The chief scientific officer still signs the portfolio decision. The candidate may now come from a model, a platform or a partner's simulation. The leaders who sign decide which of those the portfolio trusts.
Design now outpaces the evidence that proves it. In London, the owner of the decision is in the room.
The imperative · three premises
Capital now follows clinical proof, so a discovery platform is judged by the portfolio decisions it changes. Pharma tests design capability at its own bench before it buys.
Regulators now admit new kinds of evidence without lowering the standard: the FDA accepts non animal methods and ICH M15 is in effect at the EMA. The burden of proof stays with the leaders who sign.
Every model in discovery inherits its data. Curation, provenance and the bench decide whether a prediction earns a place in the portfolio.
The Conversation · AIO Circle 2027
30 minutes.London. The Savoy.
The AI Strategy discussion sits on Day Two of DDIF at 11:00 on 13 May: discovery R&D and drug design, with the chief scientific officers, heads of AI and research leaders who choose the platforms, data and partners discovery runs on.
The Savoy, London. The discovery conversation sits inside DDIF, 12 and 13 May 2027.
Previous voices · Discovery
Who has held it.
2026 faculty.
2027 faculty announced in cadence with the programme. View voices →
AIO Circle · 2027
The discoveryconversation.
By nomination · by direct introduction.