The CNS Summit Digital Innovation Index ranks companies based on a variety of digital, clinical, regulatory, and commercial metrics, examining impacts from corporate strategies down to individual product outcomes.

Offering a comprehensive and objective view, this annual index reveals how the top companies are leveraging digital advancements to accelerate development, improve patient engagement, and drive impactful change in healthcare.

These are the companies that stood above the rest in 2024:

Download the full 2024 report here

1 - Roche

After finishing in 2nd place in 2023, Roche returned to the top of the CNS Summit Digital Innovation Index in 2024, thanks to impressive achievements in the commercial and clinical fields. With notable advancements in remote patient monitoring via wearables and multiple innovative collaborations fueled through AI, Roche secured its third 1st place finish in the past four years.​

Roche continued to venture into the popular field of AI this year, engaging in collaborations with Ibex Medical Analytics and PathAI. The former partnership resulted in the development of AI algorithms that directly support clinicians in diagnosing both breast and prostate cancers, enabling laboratories to streamline their diagnostic processes and create a sustainable ecosystem for pathological laboratories. ​

Roche’s collaboration with PathAI also focused on enhancing its pathological algorithms, with a specific emphasis on Roche Tissue Diagnostics and companion diagnostics. These collaborations underscore Roche’s commitment to advancing the field of digital pathology and AI-enabled diagnostics for both drug development and clinical care, with the ultimate goal of improving patient care and advancing personalized healthcare through AI-enabled solutions.​

One of Roche’s marquee achievements of the past year was the development of a continuous glucose monitor powered by predictive algorithms. The Accu-Chek SmartGuide uses machine learning to support patients with accurate predictions and easier management of hypoglycemia risk.

The SmartGuide device piqued interest in the cardiovascular space—sparking a collaboration with CardioSignal’s motion sensor technology to support heart disease detection, in particular underlying asymptomatic heart conditions.​

Outside of the world of AI, Roche’s Navify Digital Solutions received positive reviews from the KLAS Research board. KLAS Research is an esteemed independent organization that assesses healthcare technology solutions based on performance and customer satisfaction, making their recognition a significant endorsement in the industry. ​​

Another of Roche’s notable non-AI stories of this last year was its collaboration with the Sustainable Healthcare Coalition to invest in the development of digital methodologies and databases that will enable sponsors to measure the carbon footprint of its clinical trial, with the intention of pinpointing ways to decarbonize those trials. ​

In 2024, Roche reaffirmed its leadership in digital health through AI-driven innovations, strategic partnerships, and advancements in patient care technologies. These achievements highlight Roche’s commitment to personalized healthcare and sustainable clinical practices, solidifying its role as a pioneer in the future of medicine.

2 - AstraZeneca

Last year’s list topper, AstraZeneca, had another excellent all-round performance, landing in 2nd place in the index overall and in the top three across the commercial, clinical, and research subcategories. Impressively, AstraZeneca was the only company to feature in the top five in all categories this year. These consistently high scores are attributable to AstraZeneca’s multiple initiatives in each category—including the launch of Evinova, the collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS), and numerous uses of AI and digitally enablement of operations and infrastructure. ​

2023 saw AstraZeneca’s much anticipated launch of Evinova, a global health-tech business. While Evinova operates as a separate business, it provides AstraZeneca with its own branch for digital healthcare business affairs that aims to not only help its internal operations, but also other companies across the life sciences sector. Evinova plans to begin its work by accelerating the path to market for established digital solutions from AstraZeneca, particularly in clinical trial design which should reduce the time and cost of developing further solutions in the future. These machines are highlighted by remote patient monitoring and digital therapeutics, tools that AstraZeneca will use to improve the quality of life for patients. ​

​AstraZeneca's work with AWS aims to enhance drug discovery and accelerate the development of impactful medicines. By utilizing a variety of AWS services, such as Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service and Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL, along with open-source tools, AstraZeneca's AI-driven platform improves the quality and speed of identifying potential drug candidates. The company has successfully moved 25 petabytes of data across AWS, enabling it to conduct 110 billion statistical tests in under 30 hours, providing valuable insights for patient health. Additionally, its use of AWS Graviton processors has resulted in up to 20% performance improvements and 35% cost savings.​​

Following on from the successful launch of Barcelona Hub in 2023, AstraZeneca hopes to make it the largest center for clinical innovation in Europe. AstraZeneca laid out plans to invest €1.3 billion by 2027 and to double the number of highly skilled employees by the end of 2025, signaling the company’s ambition to expand innovative outreach across the globe. ​

AstraZeneca's breadth of efforts throughout the digital health space in the domains of research, clinical, and commercial applications in the last year have further cemented its status as a leader in digital health. The industry is eager to see how AstraZeneca’s Evinova will transform the role of pharma in digital health, reshaping traditional approaches and driving the future of digital healthcare innovation.

3 - Bristol Myers Squibb

Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) leapt an impressive seven places to reach 3rd place in this year’s index, its best ranking to date. BMS had impressive showings in both the clinical and research subcategories, finishing within the top five in both thanks to some impressive collaborations and advancements in those fields.​

BMS invested heavily in research, including a $674 million deal with VantAI to use its generative AI platform (GenAI) in the drug discovery process. VantAI will be specifically asked to design and develop molecular glues, which will now be achieved using geometric deep learning from naturally occurring molecular glues from the last million years. The GenAI process then collects those results to produce insights to help in the candidate design process. ​

Meanwhile, BMS applied AI and machine learning to support clinical trial patient recruitment and screening, with a study of the use of phone bots in cases of rheumatoid arthritis having particular success This demonstrates a significant advancement in patient-centric clinical trial design. BMS also brought in Paradigm to use their AI practices to streamline study design and enrollment for patients, reinforcing the company’s desire to recruit patients into an easy-to-manage system.

Another of the company’s notable achievements is their opening of a new innovation hub in Hyderabad, India, which will expand the business’ global drug development, information technology, and digital capabilities. The hub is expected to employ 1,500 employees, including “world-class local talent” said Christopher Boerner, CEO, when asked about the further global expansion.​

BMS’ use of AI and machine learning in drug discovery and clinical trials showcases its commitment to innovation. Key investments like these and the Hyderabad hub highlight its global leadership in research and development, positioning the company for continued success in advancing patient care through digital means throughout its development processes.

4 - Bayer

Bayer had an impressive year, moving up four spots to 4th overall in the 2024 index after an 8th place finish last year. Bayer’s year was headlined by numerous collaborations including deals with Google Cloud, Mahana Therapeutics, and Aignostics, while also launching its own precision health unit in June 2024. ​

After impressive profits from digital health tools in 2022 and 2023, Bayer doubled down on its investment in consumer-facing digital tools with the introduction of its own precision health unit. With this move, Bayer is expanding its focus on digital health with an entirely new business unit dedicated to the sector. As part of Bayer’s strategy to leverage digital technologies to enhance healthcare outcomes and tap into the growing digital health market, the unit will concentrate on developing digital therapeutics and solutions that can be integrated with Bayer's existing pharmaceutical products. Overall, the endeavor aims to improve patient care and expand Bayer's presence in the digital health space.​​

By partnering with Google Cloud, Bayer is now set to develop AI-powered healthcare applications aimed at assisting radiologists. This collaboration focuses on using AI to improve the efficiency and accuracy of radiology workflows, enhance diagnostic capabilities, and ultimately improve patient outcomes. The initiative will leverage Google Cloud's expertise in AI and machine learning, combined with Bayer's deep knowledge in radiology, to create innovative solutions that support radiologists in their clinical decision-making processes.

Similarly, Bayer and Aignostics are partnering to develop another novel AI-driven platform, this time for target identification in drug discovery. This partnership will allow Bayer to enhance its capabilities in identifying potential drug targets, particularly in oncology.​​

Outside the world of AI, Bayer also progressed its standing in the software-as-a-medical-device space, entering into an agreement to commercialize Mahana Therapeutics’ digital therapeutics, focusing initially on Mahana IBS, a digital therapeutic for irritable bowel syndrome. This partnership aims to expand the reach of digital health solutions to improve patient outcomes in gastrointestinal health. ​

Bayer’s strategic investments and collaborations in digital health are positioning the company as a key player in transforming healthcare delivery through advanced technologies. By leveraging AI, machine learning, and digital therapeutics, Bayer is set to drive innovation across multiple therapeutic areas and improve patient outcomes globally.

5 - Novo Nordisk

Novo Nordisk has returned to the top 10 in this year’s index—after finishing 1st in the research subcategory to earn it a nine-spot boost from last year’s 14th place finish. The company's strong emphasis on the implementation of digital healthcare in early research places it in a leading position among pharmaceutical peers.​

One of Novo Nordisk’s most notable achievements of this past year was the opening of a brand-new research hub in King’s Cross’ Knowledge Quarter in London, following in the footsteps of several other scientific research companies. This hub will particularly focus on advancements in AI around drug discovery and development, but it will also be part of the company’s broader strategy to leverage AI for accelerating research and improving patient outcomes across a myriad of diseases. By tapping into the talent pool and innovation ecosystem in London, Novo Nordisk aims to enhance its AI-driven efforts to create effective treatments by bringing in around 40 workers across R&D and IT divisions.​

Novo Nordisk did not stop there though, as the company also joined Barcelona Health Hub (BHH) to enhance its efforts in digital healthcare innovation. By collaborating with BHH, Novo Nordisk aims to develop and implement digital solutions that can improve patient care and streamline healthcare processes, building upon Novo Nordisk’s strong desire to use technology and data to address healthcare challenges in new and innovative ways.

Another impressive feat was Novo Nordisk's partnership with Eviden to launch an AI supercomputer in Denmark. This initiative aims to bolster Denmark's capabilities in life sciences research by providing advanced computational resources. The supercomputer will support large-scale projects and complex data analyses, enhancing the country's position in scientific research and innovation.​​

Novo Nordisk has spent the last year emphasizing the use of AI and innovative technologies in its future solutions in countries around the globe, from the UK to Spain, while still improving its impressive reputation in its home country of Denmark, allowing it to continue developing homegrown scientists while making project management much easier.

Download the full 2024 report here

6 - Pfizer

Coming in at 6th in the 2024 index, Pfizer prioritized high-impact AI and digital health initiatives, particularly in drug discovery. Notable projects include the AI-driven collaboration with CeMM and Pfizer’s internal AI-powered drug design platform, both of which streamline the identification of small molecules and chemical reactions, reducing development timelines. These initiatives exemplify Pfizer’s commitment to leveraging cutting-edge AI technologies to accelerate drug discovery and improve clinical outcomes. For instance, Pfizer’s ‘reactome’ platform—developed with the University of Cambridge—uses AI to predict complex chemical reactions, enabling more precise and efficient drug design. Additionally, its AI4PA project is advancing early disease detection and remote monitoring through AI and wearable sensors, representing a new frontier in proactive patient management and treatment adjustment. ​

Pfizer’s partnership with Ultromics for detecting cardiac amyloidosis and the continued use of patient-centric digital tools—collectively known as Pfizer Digital Companion—highlights the company’s focus on integrating AI into patient care to address unmet needs and enhance patient engagement. On the commercial and operational side, Pfizer’s creation of AI platforms like “Charlie” for marketing, along with its collaboration with Amazon to harness generative AI are set to save up to $1 billion annually. These initiatives play a key role in optimizing Pfizer’s digital infrastructure and operational efficiency. Collectively, these efforts showcase Pfizer’s leadership in digital health, from scientific innovation to operational transformation, positioning it as a major player in the future of healthcare.

7 - Sanofi

With several new partnerships aimed at improving its digital infrastructure through apps and AI, Sanofi earned the 7th spot in this year’s index. Sanofi had several notable advancements in both the commercial and clinical fields, including an app—“Plai”—created in conjunction with Aily Labs. The app uses AI to help streamline many of Sanofi’s business structures, including clinical trials and drug discovery. Sanofi also had other notable AI-centered collaborations with Barcelona Health Hub, Aqemia, and OpenAI, all with goals of improving the existing processes within Sanofi. ​​

Outside of AI, Sanofi helped Dario Health with its diabetes-focused digital health app by analyzing its market outreach and improving it before public launch. While in-house research showed Dario Health the potential success of its app and its impact on patients in trial settings, Sanofi is hoping to use its experience with digital tools like apps and take the product over the finish line with investors.

8 - Boehringer Ingelheim

Despite a drop from 3rd place in last year’s index, Boehringer Ingelheim still managed to finish within the top 10 for the fifth straight year, one of only two companies to finish within the top 10 leaderboard every year since the index’s conception in 2020 (the other being Roche). ​

Boehringer Ingelheim's innovative digital therapeutic for heart failure—the CONTINUUM program—demonstrated a significant reduction in patient hospitalizations and healthcare costs versus standard of care last year. By using digital tools to monitor patients' health and provide personalized support, the program helps manage heart failure more effectively. This approach not only improves patient outcomes but also enhances the efficiency of healthcare delivery, highlighting the potential of digital therapeutics in managing chronic conditions. Boehringer Ingelheim also found success with another digital software, as the company also received Breakthrough Device Designation from the FDA for a mobile device software designed to treat negative symptoms of schizophrenia. These development milestones achieved with digital interventions highlight Boehringer Ingelheim's unique and innovative approach to treating multiple conditions with the assistance of clinically validated software.

9 - Johnson & Johnson

Johnson & Johnson secured 9th place in the 2024 CNS Summit Digital Innovation Index, driven by AI-powered innovations in drug discovery, surgical simulation, and robotics, solidifying its commitment to advancing both its pharmaceutical and MedTech businesses.​

The company led the launch of a brand-new research facility in San Francisco this past year, focusing on using AI to power drug discovery, while also strengthening its existing pharmaceutical businesses with a digital approach to drug development and commercialization. ​

Johnson & Johnson also established numerous applications of AI within its medical device companies. MedTech created OTTAVA, a robotic surgical system. The system is designed to create space in the operating room by simplifying complex workflows and enabling flexibility for clinical approaches with hopes of revolutionizing the surgery process for both healthcare professionals and patients alike. Meanwhile, another of Johnson & Johnson family of companies – Ethicon, launched an AI-powered surgical simulation platform to support skill development of future surgeons through augmented reality training.

10 - Merck KGaA

With a jump of 15 spots from last year, Merck KGaA rounds out the top 10 with its third appearance since 2021. With top 10 finishes in all three subcategories, Merck KGaA joins AstraZeneca and Bristol Myers Squibb as the only three companies to achieve that feat this year. ​​

Merck KGaA’s most notable achievement of the past year is its new global partnership with Smartpatient, a deal set to create a digital companion app aimed at supporting patients in managing their health conditions. This collaboration will utilize Smartpatient's existing platform to provide personalized health information and medication management tools. ​

Merck KGaA is also doubling down on its digital efforts after announcing its first Digital Hub in Singapore. This hub will focus on implementing advanced technologies, such as AI and data analytics, to improve production efficiency and innovation across Merck KGaA's business units. The initiative furthers the company’s strategic ambition of strengthening its digital capabilities and driving growth in the Asia-Pacific region, with hopes of continued expansion across the globe.