For much of his career, Arpit Davé has been fascinated by an idea: Some of the biggest opportunities in biopharma lie not in the science alone, but in how organizations can most effectively learn from the vast amounts of data that science generates.

Long before today’s excitement around AI, Arpit saw the potential for technology to help researchers better meet the needs of patients by uncovering new insights, connecting information and making better decisions. The challenge was that the ambition often outpaced the tools available to support it. But in recent years, he says, technology has caught up enough to turn potential into reality.

“My career journey has really been about cracking this complex problem of using technology and data, and now this powerful tool of AI, to allow companies to fulfill their mission, which is to serve patients,” Arpit says. “There has never been a time like the present for using technology to deliver on the promise of science to improve human health – now it’s on us to seize the moment.”

We recently sat down with Arpit, who joined BioMarin earlier this year as Chief Digital and Information Officer, to discuss his career journey, what brought him here and how he envisions combining the company’s three decades of scientific expertise with emerging technology to accelerate impact for people with rare genetic conditions.

Q: You’ve spoken about being purpose-driven in your career. What experiences shaped your path into biopharma?

I’ve always been drawn to science and technology. As a student growing up in India, I was fascinated by understanding how complex systems work and solving difficult problems, which is what led me to study engineering and eventually pursue a master’s degree in the United States.

Early in my career, I worked in engineering roles outside of biopharma, but I found myself looking for an opportunity to apply my interests in a way that felt more meaningful. When I entered the industry, I quickly realized I’d found the right fit. What stood out to me was the incredible complexity of the work, as well as the purpose behind what we were doing. In biopharma, we’re bringing together biology, chemistry, data, technology, regulatory processes and healthcare systems to improve people’s health and lives. That puzzle is both intellectually challenging and deeply motivating.

Around that same time, I began forming a belief that has stayed with me throughout my career. So much of what our industry does is built around data, yet there was enormous untapped potential in how that data could be used to generate insights and support decisions. Even when the technology wasn’t quite ready, I could see the possibilities. Over the years, that conviction has only grown stronger. With advances in AI and computing power, many of those possibilities are becoming reality, which makes this an incredibly exciting time.

I continue to be inspired by the purpose of the work, and the challenge of always striving to do it better and faster. The chance to help bring new therapies to people who are waiting for them is what has kept me motivated ever since.

Q: What attracted you to BioMarin?

There were three things that stood out to me: purpose, science and timing.

BioMarin’s mission and history in rare disease are incredibly compelling. The reality is that 95% of rare genetic conditions still do not have approved treatments, which means there is incredible opportunity to make a difference for patients and families.

I was also drawn to BioMarin’s scientific foundation. The company has spent nearly three decades building deep expertise in genetics and rare disease, creating an exceptional platform for future innovation.

As for the timing, the combination of this vast, specialized scientific knowledge and today’s digital capabilities creates a real opportunity to accelerate how we discover, develop and deliver therapies. There is so much untapped opportunity in our data if we can connect it and unlock more knowledge that ultimately enables us to reach more patients, faster. I wanted to be part of harnessing that potential.

Q: Can you speak to how you and the Digital Technology and AI (DTA) team are spearheading digital transformation at BioMarin?

The first thing I’d say is that the goal isn’t for digital transformation to be owned by one function. This is a team sport. Our objective is for leaders across the company to identify where technology can help their teams operate more effectively and deliver greater impact. We have strong sponsorship across the organization, including leaders who are embracing the challenge of increasing their own tech fluency, which creates the foundation for broader adoption and innovation.

Our three stated priorities are to identify more people who can benefit from our medicines, differentiate BioMarin by speeding up R&D, and rewire the company by empowering our people with modern digital capabilities and AI. We’re balancing the needs of today with smart, longer-term bets that will position us for the future. A five-pronged strategy, which we call the Digital 5, guides our decisions across these priorities and is critical to ensuring that the transformation we’re undertaking endures over time.

I’m really excited about the team we have in place to facilitate this journey. I believe the strongest teams combine deep institutional knowledge with new perspectives, all around a common purpose. The combination of people who have spent years helping build this company with the individuals who have joined more recently and bring valuable experience from their previous roles is incredibly promising, and I’m excited about what we can accomplish together.

Q: How is BioMarin approaching the use of AI?

We’re focused on applying AI where it can create meaningful impact for patients and our teams, while taking a thoughtful approach to governance to help us prioritize efforts and ensure that human judgement always guides our decisions.

The common thread across all our efforts is that AI is not the destination. The goal is for our people to drive how we use these technologies in practical ways to help advance science and enable better health outcomes.

Q: Can you provide any specific examples of how AI is enhancing the company’s work?

One area is regulatory filings. With our recent FDA submission in hypochondroplasia, we demonstrated how AI can help generate high-quality first drafts of key regulatory documents in hours rather than weeks, reducing filing cycle times and allowing our experts to spend more time reviewing, refining and applying their scientific judgment.

Another area is helping people living with rare genetic conditions get diagnosed in a more timely manner. Rare conditions typically involve small populations and fragmented data, which can make it difficult to identify people who may benefit from treatment. Advances in AI are helping us connect signals that have historically been challenging to link together, which has the potential to shorten the diagnostic journey for some people.

We’re also seeing value in shortening R&D cycle times, where scientists are using AI-enabled tools to explore questions more efficiently and evaluate potential approaches more quickly. And across the company, employees are using AI to reduce time spent on routine administrative tasks, giving them greater capacity to focus on the high-value work that requires creativity, expertise and collaboration.

Q: How will BioMarin approach partnering to advance its technology objectives?

We have a very clear philosophy when it comes to partnerships: focus on outcomes and work with the best. The pace of innovation in data, technology and AI is incredibly fast, and we don’t believe we need to build everything ourselves. Instead, we want to take advantage of the innovation happening across the industry and partner with organizations that have demonstrated both leadership and staying power.

At the same time, we’re going to be disciplined about where we invest our attention and resources. There is a lot of excitement in the AI landscape, but our goal is not to chase every new technology. Whether we’re working with a technology provider, a data partner or an AI company, the question we ask is simple: Does this help us solve meaningful problems for patients, scientists and teams across BioMarin? If the answer is yes, those are the partnerships we’re excited to pursue.

Q: Outside of work, what keeps you busy?

My family and I have really enjoyed settling into Marin County and becoming part of the community. A lot of our time revolves around our kids, whether that’s sports, school activities or simply exploring the area together.

When I have free time, I enjoy running, exercising and reading. Those are the activities that help me recharge. Our family also loves to travel. We usually try to balance time visiting family with opportunities to explore new places around the world together.

At this stage of life, it’s about spending time with family, staying curious and continuing to learn. I’m fortunate that, between my work and personal life, I get plenty of very fulfilling opportunities to do all three.