Paul O’Shea, Chief Scientific Officer at Exemplify BioPharma, has been featured in a recent Leadership Panel published by Drug Development & Delivery.
The annual panel brings together senior life science leaders to discuss how scientific, technological, and regulatory developments are shaping the future of drug discovery and development. This year’s discussion looks at the growing role of AI, evolving approaches to drug repurposing, advances in personalised medicine, and the need to balance innovation with regulatory and sustainability considerations.
Key themes from Paul’s contribution
AI and data analytics in early development
- AI and data analytics are becoming increasingly central to modern R&D
- These tools help teams interpret complex early-stage datasets more efficiently
- AI can support early risk assessment, process optimisation, and IND-enabling strategy
- Scientific judgement remains essential to interpret data within the correct regulatory and technical context
Accelerating drug repurposing
- AI can help identify new opportunities for molecules across different programmes
- Faster interpretation of preclinical, analytical, and historical data supports quicker decision-making
- Drug repurposing offers a lower-risk, more resilient development path amid cost pressures and uncertainty
The ongoing role of human expertise
- AI can accelerate learning, but it does not replace experienced scientists
- Expert interpretation remains critical for regulatory expectations, manufacturing decisions, and clinical readiness
- Strong data management, analytics, and scientific context together support more flexible development
Paul’s perspective forms part of a wider industry discussion on how drug development is evolving. Read the full Leadership Panel – Trends to Watch for 2026 article on the Drug Development & Delivery website here.
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