Insights from Chirag Patel, Executive Business Development Director at Parexel Biotech

Can you introduce yourself and your role at Parexel?

My name is Chirag Patel. I'm an Executive Director in the commercial organization at Parexel Biotech. I lead the accounts for several of our biotech sponsors.

After I spent my career in drug development, I moved to business development five years ago. My background allows me to think like our sponsors and highlight scientific aspects, while my extroverted nature helps communicate our objectives clearly. My experience helps to translate between subject matter experts and sponsors.

What trends do you see for the future of drug development?

AI and for good reasons. And the combination of Real-world data and evidence with AI will help us discover new medicines faster and move them through development more efficiently.

Where can AI have the most impact in the clinical drug development process?

• In drug discovery, it can identify new candidates more efficiently.
• In clinical trial optimization, AI will enhance our ability to design efficient trials.
• In drug repurposing, AI can help identify new uses for existing medications.
• Real-world data analysis can reveal new development opportunities.

With the needs of patients, sponsors, and regulatory bodies, what drives evolution in drug development?

Patients, without a doubt. We keep the patient at the forefront with everything we do. When you follow patient needs and make their lives easier during challenging times, other stakeholders—industry and regulatory bodies—will follow. When patients receive medicines you've worked on, everyone, including regulatory authorities, feels tremendous pride in that achievement.

What does With Heart™ mean to you?

With Heart™ means having a personal connection to our work. Once, while leading a regulatory team for a sponsor with compliance issues, I visited their manufacturing facility in Europe and saw my father's diabetes medication coming off the production line—millions of pills. That moment made my work deeply personal and relevant. These experiences drive me, knowing that the medicines I've contributed to developing are helping people close to me.

While we're primarily sponsor-facing rather than patient-facing in this role, those glimpses of real-world impact remind me why we do everything With Heart™ and inspire me to deliver more for our sponsors.

In one word, how would you describe Parexel's culture and why?

Resilience. Most people don't realize how challenging it is to advance medicines through development. There are far more failures than successes throughout the process. Parexel, particularly Parexel Biotech, demonstrates remarkable resilience in navigating the daily challenges of drug development.

What do you enjoy when not working?

I prioritize time with my young daughter. Having had her later in life, I treasure every moment I'm not working to be with her and my family. That's unquestionably my priority.

How has parenthood affected your perspective on your work in medicine development?

Having a child gave me a new appreciation for our work. Knowing that some medications my wife received during pregnancy were ones my colleagues or I worked on was deeply inspiring. When I encounter diseases affecting children, it resonates profoundly and reinforces my commitment through daily challenges. Being a father has transformed my outlook, especially knowing these medicines might someday help my daughter’s generation.

Can you share something most people don't know about you?

In my professional role, particularly when interacting with sponsors, I present myself in an extroverted and jovial manner. Few people realize that beneath that exterior is a sensitive person. Becoming a father has allowed me to reveal this side of myself more than I had previously.

How does your sensitivity contribute to your career achievements?

My sensitivity and empathy make me genuine with sponsors. While we're a service organization focused on sales and execution, people quickly recognize authenticity. This quality serves me well because I genuinely care about sponsors' goals. Understanding what drives them and genuinely caring about it builds strong connections between sponsors and Parexel.