On 6th October 2026, Cognizant announced a five-year extension of its work with Gilead Sciences, the biopharmaceutical company behind more than three decades of medical breakthroughs. The focus is building stronger DevOps capabilities and applying agentic AI responsibly across selected Gilead technology programs.
Why This Deal Matters?
Cognizant has supported parts of Gilead’s global IT infrastructure, platforms, applications and advanced analytics for more than a decade. This extension builds on that trust, with added support for DevOps and AI-enabled capabilities.
If you’re new to the term, DevOps is the practice of combining software development and IT operations so teams can build, test and release faster and more reliably. Add AI tools to the mix, and routine work gets simpler.
The emphasis is on practical use cases: simplifying processes, improving delivery and helping Gilead’s teams execute priority programs more efficiently. There’s no hype in the announcement, just a steady, results-first approach.
Cognizant and Gilead: The Deal
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Announced | 6th October 2026 (Bengaluru, India) |
| Companies | Cognizant and Gilead Sciences |
| Duration | Five years |
| Focus areas | DevOps capabilities, responsible agentic AI |
| Scope | Selected Gilead technology programs |
| Existing relationship | 10+ years |
What Each Side Brings
| Partner | Role |
|---|---|
| Cognizant | Life sciences experience, DevOps expertise and AI tools |
| Gilead Sciences | Technology and scientific priorities, plus a patient-first mission |
What the Leaders Said?
Anna Berg Asberg, Global CIO, Gilead, said the goal is giving teams reliable, efficient technology and evaluating practical, responsible uses of AI, all in service of delivering for patients.
Surya Gummadi, President, Americas, Cognizant, said the work will combine life sciences experience, DevOps and AI tools to improve delivery across selected programs.
Mohammad Haque, Global Head of Intelligent Enterprise Platforms & Large Deals, Cognizant, said the focus will be practical tools and approaches that support operational efficiency and program execution.
Conclusion
Pharma companies are under pressure to move faster without cutting corners. By strengthening the technology foundations behind its business and science, Gilead is betting that better DevOps and carefully applied AI can help teams spend less time on process and more on important work.
For Cognizant, which describes itself as an AI builder and technology services provider, the deal is another sign of enterprises turning AI investment into everyday value.
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FAQs
Q1. How long is the Cognizant and Gilead agreement?
It’s a five-year extension, building on more than a decade of collaboration.
Q2. What will Cognizant support at Gilead?
It will support DevOps capabilities and the responsible use of agentic AI tools across selected technology programs.
