Transforming Pharmaceutical R&D

Articles Flavia Rusu Nitu, CIA, Laetitia Robillard, PhD, Teri Petree, CIA, Fabien Saint-Gerard, CIA, Alex Fraga, CISA, CPA, Markus Boehringer, PhD, Jillian Fontes, PhD, Andrew Cooper Aug 10, 2026

Internal audit can help research and development functions manage risk, enable innovation, and strengthen governance.

Examples from Novartis and Sanofi show how data-driven tools, integrated assurance, and closer collaboration with R&D leaders can improve risk detection, support innovation, and keep transformation efforts aligned with business goals.

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Flavia Rusu Nitu, CIA

Flavia Rusu Nitu is audit director, R&D and Strategy and Growth at Novartis and is based in Basel, Switzerland.

Laetitia Robillard, PhD

Laetitia Robillard is head of Internal Audit, R&D/Medical at Sanofi and is based in Paris.

Teri Petree, CIA

Teri Petree is a senior director and audit account director, R&D at GSK and is based in Raleigh, N.C.

Fabien Saint-Gerard, CIA

Fabien Saint-Gerard internal audit functional head director, R&D and Strategy & Growth at Novartis.

Alex Fraga, CISA, CPA

Alex Fraga senior director, corporate audit, R&D and Supply Chain at Pfizer.

Markus Boehringer, PhD

Markus Boehringer former internal audit director, R&D and Supply Chain at Roche.

Jillian Fontes, PhD

Jillian Fontes internal audit director, R&D, Global Medical, and GPPM at Astra Zeneca.

Andrew Cooper

Andrew Cooper, internal audit head, R&D, Global Medical, and GPPM at Astra Zeneca contributed to this article.

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