AI could take 'years' off the drug development process, says Bausch + Lomb CEO Brent Saunders

Summary

Bausch + Lomb CEO Brent Saunders discusses the company's recent earnings beat, raised guidance, and strong execution with revenue growth and margin expansion. He also highlights the integration of AI across the enterprise to improve productivity and innovation, particularly in drug discovery for retinal diseases. The broader eye health market is supported by secular drivers like aging population and screen time.

• Bausch + Lomb reported 9% revenue growth and 59% EBITDA growth, beating estimates and raising full-year guidance.
• CEO Brent Saunders emphasizes durable sales growth and a strong R&D pipeline with over 60 programs.
• AI is being embedded across the enterprise as a core capability to reduce costs and accelerate innovation.
• AI is specifically used in drug discovery for tough-to-treat retinal diseases.
• Eye health market is driven by aging population, myopia in children, and dry eye from screen time.
• The company focuses on financial excellence and margin expansion after earlier focus on growth and R&D.