Empowering Patients: Transforming Drug Development through Engagement

Industry experts discuss strategies and metrics for integrating patient voices into pharmaceutical development. This summary was created by AI.

In a recent expert-led panel discussion, industry leaders from AstraZeneca, GSK, Sanofi, and Boehringer Ingelheim shared their insights on the importance of patient engagement in the pharmaceutical industry. They discussed practical strategies for involving patients in drug development, the evolving role of patient-centric roles, and the metrics used to measure the success of these initiatives.

The Evolution of Patient Engagement:

The panelists discussed the transformation of patient engagement over the years. Bonnie Pobiner emphasized the shift from merely mentioning patients as end-users to actively involving them in drug development. "The patients are the experts at what it is like to live with their disease on a day-to-day basis," she said, underscoring the importance of the 21st Century Cures Act in fostering this change.

Strategies for Effective Patient Involvement:

Ana Marija Gjurovic highlighted the need for a robust internal network to facilitate patient engagement. She explained AstraZeneca’s approach of creating a Center of Excellence and leveraging cross-functional communication to integrate patient insights across various stages of drug development. "Every single person needs to be a patient chief officer," she stated, emphasizing the company's holistic approach.

Aligning Internal Definitions and Fostering a Patient-Centric Culture:

Keri Yale discussed the significance of aligning internal definitions of patient centricity and fostering a culture that values patient insights. "We didn't want patient centricity and patient engagement to be buzzwords," she explained, stressing the importance of a clearly defined mindset and culture that prioritizes patient needs.

The Role of Chief Patient Officers:

Bonnie Pobiner shared how GSK's introduction of a Chief Patient Officer has influenced organizational shifts towards patient-focused development. "The whole aim of having that role is to ensure that we deliver differentiated medicines and vaccines that address unmet needs for patients," she noted.

Diversity and Inclusion in Patient Engagement:

The panelists agreed on the importance of capturing a diverse range of patient experiences. Beth Brooks described Sanofi's approach to developing inclusive clinical trials by considering social determinants of health and partnering with organizations that represent diverse patient populations. "We look at the barriers to participation and come up with strategies to address them," she explained.

Measuring the Impact of Patient Engagement:

The discussion on metrics revealed a multi-layered approach to measuring the success of patient engagement initiatives. Ana Marija Gjurovic outlined a framework that includes operational metrics, activity outcomes, quality measures, and long-term impact. "It's important that we don't do a ticking-the-box exercise but apply the highest quality of patient engagement," she asserted.

The panelists shared several practical takeaways, emphasizing the importance of integrating patient voices early in the drug development process, ensuring diverse representation, and continuously evolving patient engagement strategies. "If we lower the barriers for the people who have the most difficulty participating, we are lowering the barriers for everybody," Beth Brooks concluded.

The panel discussion highlighted the significant strides the pharmaceutical industry has made in patient engagement. By integrating patient insights into every stage of drug development, fostering a patient-centric culture, and measuring the impact of these initiatives, pharmaceutical companies can better meet patient needs and improve health outcomes. The collective efforts of industry leaders and their commitment to patient engagement promise a more inclusive and effective approach to pharmaceutical innovation.

Key Quotes:

• Bonnie Pobiner, GSK:?"The patients are the experts at what it is like to live with their disease on a day-to-day basis."
• Ana Marija Gjurovic, AstraZeneca:?"Every single person needs to be a patient chief officer."
• Keri Yale, Boehringer Ingelheim:?"We didn't want patient centricity and patient engagement to be buzzwords."
• Beth Brooks, Sanofi:?"If we lower the barriers for the people who have the most difficulty participating, we are lowering the barriers for everybody."

By focusing on patient-centric approaches and leveraging diverse insights, the pharmaceutical industry can continue to innovate and deliver better outcomes for patients worldwide.

For the full insights, watch the panel discussion video below.

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In order to distill the highlights of this webinar discussion faster, we are using generative AI technology to summarise transcripts, that are checked by a member of our team. If you have any feedback about the summary and this article, please contact [email protected].