As we approach 2025, the trajectory is clear: Health care and life sciences are steadily laying the groundwork for sustained transformation and innovation. There will be no sudden disruption, no major pivot, yet focused efforts to build agile, resilient organizations. SAS predicts the coming year will be defined by the continued integration of health systems, the modernization of technology, and the increasingly active role of patients and consumers in directing their care in industries shaped by regulation and public trust.
Health care and life sciences experts from global data and AI leader SAS shared their thoughts on the current and future state of the industries.
Want to take a deeper dive? Register for the SAS webinar: The Future of Health and Life Sciences: Top Trends in 2025 on Jan. 22, 2025.
Targeted AI applications drive expanded AI usage. Health care organizations and pharmaceutical companies will explore new ways to implement AI-driven insights at every level, from patient care personalization to faster drug development cycles, with a focus on expanded use of AI in targeted areas of the ecosystem. As AI proves its own value in a variety of ecosystem-specific settings, we expect to see increased governance and directives for the use of AI from CIOs, CTOs, regulators and industry leaders in the form of company-specific AI playbooks.
Generative AI reaches the inner workings of the clinical trial. Due to sophisticated digitization and standardization techniques, clinical trial protocols now allow use of AI for high-quality information extraction and generation to help facilitate the development of innovative therapies. Applying generative AI to clinical trials will lead to inclusion of underserved populations, faster submissions, and overall acceleration of new clinical trial models and approaches.
– Mark Lambrecht, Senior Director, Health Care & Life Sciences Advisory, SAS
Health care and pharma converge. Pharma and health care are working more closely than ever, using data and shared insights to drive innovation in patient care and treatment development. In 2025, this convergence is no longer experimental – it will be foundational to how these industries operate. However, data interoperability will remain the primary challenge for these traditionally siloed industries. Ensuring that data flows freely and securely across systems will be a critical focus in the year ahead to move toward tangible convergence. For patients, this means more cohesive health experiences where care delivery and medical advancements are intertwined.
– Gail Stephens, Vice President, Health and Life Sciences, SAS
Technology takes center stage. Despite extraordinary advances, many parts of the health care technology stack remain fragmented and outdated and the need for a digital overhaul is unavoidable. Health care organizations, from hospitals to research labs, must reimagine their infrastructure, embracing solutions that modernize and integrate the various systems on which they rely. But even with the right tools, financial investment will be paramount. For the industry to benefit from the promise of AI, substantial resources must be directed toward infrastructure, prioritizing data integrity, security and usability.
– Steve Kearney, Global Medical Director, SAS
Payers tap technology to help strengthen the public health framework. After years in a state of public health emergency due to COVID-19, we will see payers and public health vow to keep communication more open than it has been in the past. Data sharing is key to this effort, and increases in interoperability are enabling payers and public health to speak the same language. Advancements in technology, such as AI-driven analytics and real-time data exchanges, will further streamline collaboration and decision-making. Expect to see more shared accountability evolve through the standardization of metrics and shared investments to make healthier populations.
– Amanda Barefoot, MHA, Managing Director, Health Care & Life Sciences Solutions, SAS
