Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | April 20, 2026 | Worcester Business Journal 13 HEALTH CARE F O C U S to automate can be simplified to one question: "Is the juice worth the squeeze?" Rodrigues said. e Germany-based CDMO focus- es on manufacturing and administra- tive steps that can be digitized to im- prove speed, efficiency, and accuracy. With 270 local employees and 1,400 worldwide, Rentschler is the 16th largest life sciences and biotechnology firm in Central Massachusetts. On top of the firm's new liquid-han- dling robot, Rentschler uses soware that automates and integrates business functions to cut down on manual, iterative administrative tasks like pro- cessing invoices. e company uses AI to prepare documents, such as ana- lytical reports, that are then reviewed, edited, and finalized by experts. "Our digitalization and automation roadmap focuses on 'How do we gain value?'" Rodrigues said. "We need to balance that investment of our peo- ple's time and effort with what their reward of that outcome is." Veristat, a fellow CDMO out of Southborough, uses a similar ap- proach. e firm feeds statistical data into AI tools to help prepare docu- ments such as clinical study reports, safety narratives, and regulatory briefings. ese tools can dra up to 80% of certain sections, said Kyle McBride, Veristat's vice president of sta- tistical analysis. is can reduce report-writing time from two to three months to five to 10 days, allowing medical writers to focus on the interpreta- tion of data. "It's helping us get to decisions that are backed by the data," said McBride. "It helps us get there faster and with more confidence." Moving faster, smarter A growing need in drug develop- ment calls for automation to connect equipment and centralize data, known as the orchestration layer of a control system, said Makowiecki. Rentschler uses a manufacturing execution system that pulls data from the company's pumps, flow systems, and filters to make sure they're work- ing properly, said Rodrigues. "What it allows us to then do is to analyze [data] and look for ineffi- ciencies or opportunities to refine or adjust so that we can ensure that we're being as efficient as possible in the production process," he said. Implementing automation in these ways allows CDMOs to deliver more data, faster and differentiate them- selves to stay attractive to biopharma- ceutical companies, Makowiecki said. "And typically, a way of differentia- tion is 'We move faster,' or 'We lever- age intelligent digital solutions to help us move you faster through process development,'" he said. at speed can't come at the cost of quality, Rodrigues said. "e inherent risk in a digitaliza- tion and automation roadmap and journey is to see it as the answer," said Rodrigues. "Automation enables that efficiency, it gets value. It enables flexibility, but it isn't, in and of itself, a solution." Rentschler would never implement automation in certain areas, including direct interaction with a client. "It doesn't take the experts out of that space in place," said Rodrigues. "It doesn't take the critical role of collaboration." Rentschler has organized an in- ternal AI working group to evaluate current processes that are working efficiently and to identify areas where automation could prove beneficial. "For us, it's the ability to deliver the work we do," said Rodrigues. "It's also the ability to then have deeper engagements and bring more, better benefit to our clients." W Kyle McBride, Veristat vice president of statistical analysis Agentic AI impact on pharma A McKinsey & Co. study analyzing 270 workflows and 1,200 tasks found that deploying agentic AI can cut down on employee workloads at pharmaceutical companies by up to 65%. Work sector Percent of employee workload that can be freed up Research and early development 21%-30% Development 30%-36% Medical affairs 23%-38% Manufacturing and supply chain 17%-27% Technology delivery 50%-65% Source: McKinsey & Co. 724 Main Street, Holden MA 01520 Phone: (508) 829-5566 HoldenHearingAid.com/audiologist HAVE YOU EVER HAD A HEARING EVALUATION? Matthew Moreno, AuD.,CCC-A, Doctor of Audiology • Hearing Aids • Batteries & Accessories • Assistive Listening Devices • Amplified Phones • Hearing Evaluations • Wax Removal • Hearing Protection • Musician's Ear Plugs • Swim Plugs Our goal is to improve the lives of people with hearing loss through better hearing and quality hearing care services. We offer comprehensive hearing care services including complete hearing evaluations, hearing loss rehabilitation, education and counseling. "It helps us get there faster and with more confidence." - Kyle McBride, from Veristat

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