Leading pharma companies in the cloud computing theme  

The future of the pharma industry will be shaped by a range of disruptive themes, with cloud computing one of the themes that will have a significant impact on pharma companies. 

Cloud computing refers to the provision of information technology (IT) infrastructure and platform services to provide a flexible, scalable, and on-demand IT environment. At the simplest level of abstraction, it may refer only to IT infrastructure, such as a remotely hosted server. At the furthest level of abstraction, it refers to a remotely hosted software application together with all the computing elements required to provide that software, such as a data center, networking equipment, and servers.  

Given the enormous amount of data generated, stored, and used by the pharma industry, cloud computing can break down data silos across the whole pharma value chain to transform processes, from drug discovery and development, manufacturing, and sales and marketing. Cloud also supports the use of other emerging technologies in pharma, such as big data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI).  

Like other industries, there are many wide-reaching benefits of cloud to pharma, such as enhanced data analytics capabilities, increased speed and resilience, enhanced compliance and traceability, and improved operational excellence, all of which can lead to reduced costs and shortened timelines of bringing a drug to market. 

However, not all companies are equal when it comes to their capabilities and investments in the key themes that matter most to their industry. Understanding how companies are positioned and ranked in the most important themes can be a key leading indicator of their future earnings potential and relative competitive position.  

According to GlobalData’s report Cloud Computing in Healthcare, leading adopters of cloud computing include: AstraZeneca, Sanofi, Takeda, Becton Dickinson, Pfizer, Roche, Merck & Co, Novartis, GSK, Bayer, Johnson & Johnson, UCB.

AstraZeneca 

AstraZeneca is one of the leading adopters of cloud computing in the pharma industry. The company has used a variety of infrastructure as a service (IaaS) and platform as a service (PaaS) providers, including Amazon Web Services (AWS), Azure, Google, and Mongo, as well as cloud cybersecurity vendors, such as Commvault, to securely back-up, move, and migrate data across on-premises, private, and public clouds. 

As a high-profile user of AWS, AstraZeneca has built multiple software solutions on its platform, including those for rapid processing and analytics of genomics data. In November 2022, the company’s Global VP of R&D revealed that over 25 petabytes of data from its genomic database are kept on the AWS global network, with over 110 billion tests able to be performed in less than 30 hours, significantly improving bioinformatics efficiency.  

AstraZeneca has implemented many cloud solutions over the years across its value chain, from supply chain management to patient engagement, with smaller partners including G42 Healthcare, DNAnexus, Alveofit, N-SIDES Suite, DocOn, Thorne HealthTech, and Lhasa Limited. 

Takeda 

Takeda has made high-profile investments in the cloud computing theme. In its 2020 Sustainability Report, Takeda revealed it began moving operations to the cloud in 2019 and plans to increase cloud migration to reach its power consumption and carbon emissions targets.  

Subsequently, in 2020, Takeda announced a new five-year strategic partnership with AWS and Accenture to accelerate its cloud-based digital transformation and move 80% of its apps on to the cloud. The three companies are working to modernise Takeda’s platforms, accelerate data services, promote internal innovation, and give employees new skills. Driven by the AWS and Accenture partnership, Takeda moved from using Bigazi’s on-premises solution to Bizagi’s cloud PaaS solution in 2021. 

Other important cloud vendor partnerships have included Takeda’s partnership with Tata Consultant Services to create a digital product development service for various business functions, resulting in 12 new products between 2019 and 2022. Takeda also partnered with Deloitte to create a cloud-based machine learning product to help in diagnosing non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and treatment resistant depression.  

Finally, in 2022, Takeda was recognised for its cloud-enabled supply chain management for stem cell therapy in the Facility of the Year Awards. With the cloud platform, Takeda’s customers have complete visibility of the status of ordered products through the supply chain. This is extremely important in cell therapy, as products need to be kept at certain temperatures and delivered quickly. 

Sanofi 

Sanofi has revealed key strategic partnerships with cloud vendors Google and Vizibl. Sanofi’s partnership with Vizibl takes advantage of the vendors Supplier Collaboration & Innovation platform to help collaborate with its suppliers, manage supply chain disruption, and drive sustainable growth.

Meanwhile, its collaboration with Google in 2019 to open a new virtual Innovation Lab is helping the pharma company to better understand key diseases and provide personalised treatment advice as a result. Sanofi is also migrating many of its business operations to the Google Cloud Platform to simplify management, improve cost-efficiency, and support various business goals.  

To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the pharma industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic report Cloud Computing in Healthcare. The pharma companies featured in our thematic scorecard are listed below.

• AbbVie
• Amgen
• Astellas Pharma
• AstraZeneca
• Bayer
• Biocad
• Biogen
• Boehringer Sohn
• Bristol Myers Squibb
• Cadila
• Catalent
• Celltrion
• Charles River
• Cipla
• Coherus
• CSL
• CSPC
• Daiichi Sankyo
• Dr Reddy’s
• Generium
• Gilead Sciences
• GSK
• Innovent Biologics
• Intas
• IQVIA
• Johnson & Johnson
• Eli Lilly
• Lonza
• Lupin
• Merck
• Merck & Co
• Novartis
• Novo Nordisk
• Otsuka
• Parexel
• Perrigo
• Pfizer
• Regeneron
• Reliance Industries
• Roche
• Samsung Biologics
• Sanofi
• Seagen
• Shanghai Henlius Biotech
• Sun Pharma
• TakedaTeva
• Thermo Fisher Scientific
• UCB
• Vertex
• Viatris
• WuXi AppTec
• Zydus Lifesciences