Mike Ryan, Executive Vice President, Europe, Eversana about NLSDays’ Vaccine Crosslinks: From Cancer to COVID super session interviewed by Chelsea Ranger, Senior advisor, SwedenBIO Eversana has written and spoken a lot towards the focus of the provider- and patient-centric journey, which inevitably has changed over the past 3 years. How do you envision the role of industry in supporting these new dynamics and what do you believe are the main challenges we face? The industry is already responding in terms of the therapies that they are creating – with a much greater focus on unmet needs. The industry is working much better with patient advocacy groups and healtcare providers. However, in doing so, it is also creating a series of solutions that will require new treatment methods, ongoing monitoring of patients health and well-being, as well as supporting a more holistic approach to patient well-being. I see the industry not just providing a ‘drug’ any longer. They will support the delivery of that drug and work with all of the patients’ support network to ensure optimal delivery of the therapy, greater adherence support by provision of devices and software solutions to support adherence and measure the success of the therapy. Most importantly, the industry will continue to evolve its relationships with regulatory agencies, healtcare providers, and national health systems to embrace better data sharing to ensure optimal safety and better outcomes for patients and their families. I also want to see the industry, governments (HTAs in particular) taking measures to ensure rapid access to medicines as soon as possible after regulatory approval. What do you see as the untapped opportunities that we can endeavor to realize between the fields of immunology, infectious disease, and oncology, as well as the increasingly intersectional fields across health and life sciences? This is a huge question – and I am certain I could write on this for days. Each of the therapeutic areas represent huge areas of need. We have made amazing progress in oncology in particular with post-diagnosis life expectancy considerably improved. According to Macmillian, people now live nearly six times longer after their cancer diagnosis than was the case 40 years ago. The development of safe and effective COVID vaccines was an incredible example of what can happen when all stakeholders unite. However, all of these developments are also examples of the amount of time and money that is required to develop new therapies. Hence, I see the need to look closely at lifestyle support to mimimise the incidence of disease, as well as sharing better data to support early and better diagnoses. I believe that regulators and governments in the EU in particular need to develop better sharing of healthcare data both within the EU and with other countries that support the Declaration of Helsinki. Better data algorithms, coupled with better diagnostics can be then implemented by physicians to support earlier diagnosis – which results in better outcomes. Better lifestyle and dietary support of patients supported by non-invasive monitoring of their condition whilst being administered therapies will lead to quicker recoveries. The ongoing support of the development of curative treatments in areas such as cell & gene therapies will also play a major role in the future. Regulators and governments will have to develop new ways of assessing benefits of curative therapies and needless to say access will have to be provided to all faster. What are you looking forward to at Nordic Life Science Days? Any tips you would like to share with our entrepreneurs? I look forward to seeing the ongoing world leadership in novel therapy development that the Nordic industry has produced. The investment into the industry from both private and national funds in the region has been incredible – and seeing therapies on the market that were developed in the region is hugely rewarding. As to what tip I would offer, when you are thinking about developing a novel therapy – you must, at all stages, think beyond what the regulators want to see. Their needs are, of course, critical – but it is essential to think about what is needed to support reimbursement of your product from the very beginning. Gathering better patient reported outcomes, working more closely with investigators (who will become prescribers and advocates) and, needless to say, working with the patients themselves and their advocacy groups is critical. Having a product approved but not reimbursed does no good to you, your company, or the patients and doctors that helped bring it through clinical trials. Thank you so much Mike and see you in Malmö! Super Session 3 28 September 2022 Vaccine Crosslinks: From Cancer to COVID