Life sciences & Language AI: fast, compliant communication

The life sciences industry is in the midst of a global acceleration, and Language AI is at the heart of it. The pharmaceutical market alone soared to $1.7 trillion in 2024, and is projected to hit $2.8 trillion by 2033—putting pressure on companies to innovate faster, scale globally, and stay compliant in every language.

But it’s not just about developing the next breakthrough drug. It’s about translating complex science into crystal-clear, regulation-ready, patient-centric communication across dozens of languages and markets. As DeepL CMO, Steve Rotter, underscores, “Adaptation isn’t just about removing language barriers. It can transform language into a springboard for growth, as well."

Our latest white paper explains how life sciences companies are using Language AI to overcome communication and collaboration challenges in a multilingual, highly regulated environment. It highlights AI’s critical role in breaking down language barriers, enabling faster and more accurate translations, and improving collaboration across global, multilingual teams.

Why Language AI is booming in life sciences

Life sciences companies deal with massive volumes of highly technical, multilingual content—from clinical trial documentation and patient leaflets, to regulatory filings and training materials. In a world of fast-track approvals, multilingual clinical trials and digital-first patient engagement, a mistranslation isn't just a typo: it can delay approvals, spark legal action or risk patient safety.

Enter AI-powered language solutions. This emerging category of technology is reshaping how the industry handles translation, enabling faster, more consistent and secure translations, without sacrificing compliance.

The combined market for life sciences language services and technology reached over $80 billion in 2023, with further growth expected through 2028. What’s fueling the surge?

• Faster drug approvals and global clinical trials: Regulatory reforms like the FDA’s digital-first guidance and the EU’s updated clinical trial regulations are shortening timelines but increasing complexity. Language AI helps teams translate documentation quickly and accurately, reducing time to market.
• Multilingual patient access and engagement: Digital health platforms, eConsent and public-facing clinical trial summaries require precise communication tailored for different languages and cultures. AI-powered translation solutions help meet these needs efficiently.
• Compliance, accuracy and risk management: In highly regulated sectors, any misstep in communication—especially across borders—can lead to legal issues, failed audits or, in the worst cases, patient harm. Specialized Language AI tools help enforce consistency and reduce translation errors.

Tackling global communication challenges in life sciences

As regulatory reforms worldwide speed up drug approvals and patient access, life sciences companies must move fast—with accurate translations at the core.

Each global market brings its own linguistic and regulatory challenges, among them:

• In the US, HIPAA compliance and English→Spanish translation dominate
• Japan and Korea require linguistic nuance and typically prefer human reviewers for critical content
• In Germany, deep documentation and local vendor preference are the norm
• France and Spain prioritize cultural adaptation as much as technical accuracy
• The UK deals with the quirks of British vs. American medical English

Meanwhile, different sectors within life sciences—from biotech research to medical device manufacturing—require tailored approaches to translation, depending on content type, volume and frequency.

AI + human experts work better together

Life sciences companies are increasingly adopting hybrid human-plus-AI translation workflows to meet strict regulatory and linguistic standards without slowing operations. Machine Translation Post-Editing (MTPE) has emerged as the preferred model, combining the speed of AI with expert human oversight to ensure scientific and regulatory accuracy.

This human-in-the-loop approach is especially critical in regulated industries, a view shared by global leaders. According to a recent DeepL survey, 31% see AI as key to enhancing in-house translation, while 32% prefer blended solutions that pair AI with human expertise.

As our CTO, Sebastian Enderlein, highlights, "For high-stakes scenarios like life sciences, our human-in-the-loop approach ensures best-in-class quality, avoiding costly mistranslations."

The role of specialized Language AI

A human-in-the-loop approach best serves the needs of life sciences companies when paired with specialized Language AI, like DeepL. 

Specialized Language AI features tools like custom glossaries and ISO-certified workflows that ensure greater accuracy and data security. Here, Sebastian emphasizes, “DeepL’s specialized translation models perform one job exceptionally well: translating text across languages while respecting context and company-specific nuances.”

People across the life sciences industry are already realizing the value of DeepL. According to an analysis of DeepL usage in pharma, medical device, and healthcare sectors:

• 68% use DeepL for work purposes, even though they aren’t language professionals
• 47% use it several times per week

 More specifically: 

• 71% use DeepL to look up the meaning of words
• 61% use it to translate emails or messages
• 54% use it for help writing emails
• 40% use it to translate digital documents 

That versatility makes DeepL a smart, secure choice for life sciences companies navigating global markets.

Language matters more than ever in life sciences

Life sciences companies can’t afford to treat translation as an afterthought. In a high-stakes, multilingual and highly regulated industry, Language AI is a critical enabler of speed, compliance and patient trust. 

Download our white paper for deep insights into:

• Navigating the compliance maze: Learn how life sciences companies can meet global regulatory standards across languages without compromising speed or quality.
• Tailoring translation strategies: Discover how translation needs vary by market, segment and use case, and why precision is non-negotiable.
• Leveraging AI without the risk: See how cutting-edge AI, including LLMs and DeepL, can enhance translation speed while keeping human experts in the loop for accuracy.