AstraZeneca is mounting a big push into digital technologies, which includes hiring a former Nasa artificial intelligence expert, as it seeks to accelerate drug discovery and show the value of its medicines in an increasingly tough pricing environment. The approach was mapped out at a meeting of about 200 senior leaders at its headquarters in Gothenburg, Sweden, late last month. It forms part of a blueprint for future growth that its chief executive, Pascal Soriot, has internally dubbed "AZ2025". The pharma industry is facing unprecedented levels of scrutiny over its pricing, particularly in the US. At the same time, the emergence of highly expensive potential cures for diseases such as cancer has put more pressure on drug companies to show their prices represent value for money.