“Berlin's vibrant healthtech and AI ecosystem is a crucial component of Bayer's success”

Artificial intelligence is transforming healthcare – from how new drugs are discovered to how clinical trials are conducted and diagnoses are made. At Bayer, these advances are directly tied to the company’s mission of “Health for all, hunger for none” – with AI accelerating target identification, optimizing compound screening and improving patient safety through more efficient and transparent processes. 

Dr. Jordi Casanellas, Director of AI at Bayer Pharma in Berlin, is helping to drive these developments at the intersection of science, technology and ethics. In this interview, he explains how AI is revolutionizing drug discovery and clinical trials, the safeguards Bayer has put in place to ensure transparency and compliance – and why Berlin has become a strategic hub for Bayer’s global AI efforts. He also highlights collaborations with local partners such as AIgnostics and Charité, and looks ahead to the next big leap: embedding AI across the healthcare value chain to bring better therapies to patients faster.

Dr. Casanellas, Bayer is leading innovative AI initiatives across healthcare, agriculture, and consumer health. Could you highlight the most impactful projects currently underway—and how they contribute to your mission of “Health for all, hunger for none”?

At Bayer, our mission "Health for all, hunger for none" fundamentally shapes our approach to AI, particularly in healthcare. We are leveraging AI to transform drug discovery by accelerating target identification and optimizing compound screening processes, thereby increasing our chances of success in developing new treatments. In clinical trials, AI enhances patient recruitment and study design, leading to more efficient and safer trials. Furthermore, AI-driven solutions improve diagnostic accuracy and patient outcomes, ensuring that patient safety remains our top priority. These initiatives are pivotal in delivering innovative therapies to patients faster, aligning with our commitment to building a healthier world.

In drug discovery, AI is transforming how new compounds and targets are identified. What are the most exciting developments you've seen at Bayer in this area?

AI is revolutionizing drug discovery at Bayer by enhancing every phase of the process, from target identification to compound screening. Our use of knowledge graphs and in-silico approaches is particularly exciting, as these technologies enable us to uncover new drug targets more efficiently. By integrating vast datasets and employing advanced algorithms, we can identify patterns and connections that were previously undetectable, streamlining development cycles and significantly reducing costs. These approaches not only accelerate the discovery process but also increase our ability to tackle complex diseases, offering new hope to patients with unmet medical needs. Through AI, we are enhancing our capacity to develop effective treatments and improve patient outcomes.

Clinical trials and medical coding are two areas where AI is accelerating processes significantly. Can you share how your AI models are improving efficiency, accuracy, and ultimately, patient outcomes?

AI enhances clinical trials at Bayer by optimizing patient recruitment and study design, as demonstrated in our Future Clinical Trials project. By analyzing real-world medical data, AI can even spot rare side effects and help us steer clear of potential risks, making trials smoother and safer. In medical coding, our AI systems achieve high accuracy rates, ensuring efficient processing of clinical data. These advancements contribute to faster access to new therapies and improved patient outcomes. AI is making a real difference in both clinical trials and medical coding at Bayer.

With AI’s potential come ethical and regulatory responsibilities. How does Bayer ensure that its AI systems—especially in healthcare—are transparent, unbiased, and privacy-compliant?

Bayer is steadfastly committed to ethical AI use, adhering to principles of transparency, bias minimization, and privacy protection. We comply with regulations like the EU AI Act and employ human oversight in processes such as medical coding. Our AI systems are designed to be explainable, ensuring accountability and trustworthiness.

As a global company, why has Bayer chosen to focus significant AI efforts in Berlin? What makes the city such a strategic hub for innovation?

Berlin is a strategic hub for Bayer's AI initiatives due to its vibrant scientific community and access to top institutions like Charité. The city's dynamic start-up scene and diverse talent pool foster innovation, making it ideal for advancing our healthcare projects and collaborating with leading experts.

How does Berlin’s healthtech and AI ecosystem support your work? Are there local collaborations, networks, or talent pools that have been particularly impactful for Bayer?

Berlin's vibrant healthtech and AI ecosystem is a crucial component of Bayer's success, offering numerous opportunities for collaboration and innovation. A notable partnership is with AIgnostics, a pioneering company founded by Charité Berlin and TU Berlin. This collaboration focuses on leveraging advanced AI combined with pathology data to improve diagnostics and offer personalized treatment options to patients. This partnership is part of our broader strategy to create a novel target identification platform, combining AIgnostics' technology with Bayer's extensive oncological expertise.

Another initiative we’re really excited about is the upcoming Berlin Center for Gene and Cell Therapies, a partnership with Charité that aspires to create a leading biotech ecosystem in Berlin. Such collaborations, along with Berlin's dynamic start-up scene and academic institutions, contribute significantly to our efforts in advancing healthcare solutions and driving innovation.

Looking to the future, what’s the next big leap for AI in healthcare—and how is Bayer preparing to shape that future from Berlin and beyond?

The next big leap for AI in healthcare involves integrating solutions across the entire value chain, from research to patient care. Bayer is embedding AI into our processes to enhance scientific discovery, streamline operations, and improve patient outcomes. Our proprietary platform supports over 40,000 employees with tailored AI tools for efficient information and content creation. We see immense potential in data science and agentic AI for accelerating drug discovery, personalizing medicine, and boosting patient engagement. Berlin remains a strategic hub, linking us to a global network of innovators and enabling Bayer to lead the future of healthcare for patients worldwide.

Thank you for the great conversation.

Note: This interview was conducted on September 18, 2025.