Economist Pharma Summit 2012
The bar has been raised by payers, policymakers and society as a whole to reward biopharma for its innovation, while the search for new medicines has become increasingly challenging.
Head of Science and Technology Integration Office, AstraZeneca
On 9 February Anders Ekblom spoke on behalf of AstraZeneca at The Economist Pharma Summit in London, on the topic of whether biopharma innovation is appropriately rewarded.
The event focused on “new directions” that might help the industry overcome its challenges, specifically:
- Emerging healthcare models and the role pharma can play in this
- The real implications of patient-centric healthcare
- The game changers: the innovations that will transform the industry and want they want from payers
- The varying perspectives of the word ‘value’
Anders presented on a panel along with Andrew Baum, Global Head of Healthcare Research at Citi, and described how industry is changing its R&D model and working with those who pay for healthcare to provide the evidence for the true value that our medicines bring. He also outlined what companies like AstraZeneca need from payers in terms of a clear definition of value and open, efficient reimbursement processes. He told the audience:
"The success of our productivity is much more than a pharma issue, it is a societal issue. We have an important part to play in this, but we need to carefully manage the increase in demand and demonstrate value."
"We need collaboration between payers and stakeholders in healthcare to bring value."
"Sometimes you need to approach the more challenging areas of research differently, that’s why last week we announced we are going to carry out our neuroscience research in a new way."
"In order to continue to meet the demands in healthcare, including the biopharma industry, need to work together to create an environment in which new medicines are viewed as an investment worth rewarding, not a cost worth ignoring."