The Value of Pharmaceutical Innovation

The annual commemoration of Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel's passing on Dec. 10 is a significant event for the pharmaceutical industry worldwide. The ceremony celebrating the prize awarded in his name has recognized the contributions of doctors and scientists in medicine and physiology 196 times. Although the announcement was made months ago, it presents an opportunity to reflect on our starting point and the new challenges that lay ahead in the healthcare field in the medium and long term.

Serums for diphtheria, explanations of malaria's origins and cures, treatments for lupus vulgaris, the physiology of digestion, and the discovery of the tuberculosis bacteria were the first research topics awarded in the 20th century. Over the last decade, significant advancements have been made in neurology, infectology, and oncology through research focusing on the "internal GPS of the brain" to better comprehend the process that leads to Alzheimer's disease, the mechanism responsible for Hepatitis C virus liver infection, and immuno-oncology, which has unveiled the role played by the immune system in identifying and attacking cancerous cells. These achievements result from novel technologies.

The Nobel Prize in 2023 recognized research on messenger RNA, pivotal in developing COVID-19 vaccines. These vaccines significantly mitigated the impact of the early 2020 pandemic and facilitated the creation of other biologics targeting new variants.

In perspective, 123 years of significant advances in healthcare will mark a before and after in the treatment of serious diseases, yet there are still questions, such as why is it so difficult to find a cure for cancer? Nick Botwood, senior vice president of Oncology Medical, and Ridwaan Jhetam, senior vice president of WW Medical Affairs Hematology, are often asked this question and have a concrete answer: most people assume that it is just a disease and that a single drug might work. The reality is that it is a relentless and complex disease with a unique cause, mechanism, and complications.

One of the many lessons cancer teaches us is that every case is a challenge. Every year, more than 19 million people worldwide are diagnosed with cancer (Globocan 2020), while those who have already been diagnosed experience a relapse after early treatment. These are patients who require personalized therapies. Knowing the first and last name, and even the cancer identification number of each becomes a necessary step in the development of new drugs for medical oncology.

Studies in genomics have unveiled new horizons in comprehending tumor biology, paving the path toward utilizing genetic biomarkers. Additionally, the groundbreaking work of James P. Allison, M.D., executive director of the Immunotherapy Platform at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in the United States, and Tasuku Honjo, M.D., of Kyoto University in Japan, who each won the Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology in 2018 (MD Anderson, 2018), opened new horizons in the understanding of tumor biology and the immune system, enabling the development of transformative treatments that today accelerate the pace of recovery, improve survival and quality of life for patients with hemato-oncologic cancers.

This gives me the opportunity to highlight the importance of scientific research, its products, and the public-private collaborations that occur around it, as tangible examples of the benefits of innovation for social welfare and with a patient-centered approach, defined as the provision of care that respects and responds to their preferences, needs, and values to ensure that their opinions guide medical decisions (La Salle University, 2017).

From a broader perspective, pharmaceutical innovations, such as immunotherapy, can optimize healthcare resources by effectively preventing or treating various diseases for which they are intended, reducing hospitalizations, doctor visits, and diagnostic tests, among other benefits. In addition, prevention, early detection, and access to treatment have shown to improve business productivity by reducing absenteeism and presenteeism. 

In addition, by focusing on priority areas of medicine, such as oncology, autoimmune, infectious, and cardiovascular diseases, pharmaceutical innovation is at the forefront of knowledge and is helping to shape and reshape the technological future at an unprecedented pace.

Evidence of this is translational medicine (TM), a novel approach that incorporates genetic engineering, artificial intelligence, big data, and bioinformatics to remove barriers and accelerate the discovery of new diagnostic tools and treatments through a multidisciplinary approach that includes basic, clinical, and patient-oriented research (Gaceta Médica de México, 2017).

In short, TM aims to facilitate prevention, screening, and prediction of response to specific treatments for multiple diseases. Therefore, its application is a milestone and adds to international recommendations on digital health through evidence-based practices and high-quality data for decision-making.

Together with information and communication technologies, digital health enables not only the automation of processes and services, but also the use of telemedicine, electronic medical records, and digital prescriptions, among other solutions that streamline primary and secondary care.

The pharmaceutical industry undeniably stands as one of the economy's most dynamic sectors, contributing to value creation through clinical research studies with a diverse and inclusive approach, continuing medical education, and direct and indirect skilled employment.

Globally, there is a strong correlation between health and the gross domestic product (GDP) of different countries (AMIIF, 2022). In fact, countries with more robust healthcare systems often exhibit higher income levels. The recent health crisis is a reminder of the strong link between population health, competitiveness, and economic growth.

We live in an era of extraordinary innovation and scientific knowledge, and we have an incredible opportunity to translate this momentum into diagnostics and treatments that make a significant difference in the lives of patients, their families and their communities. 

This will only be possible if industry, governments, healthcare professionals, civil society organizations, and opinion leaders work together to create equitable, resilient and sustainable healthcare systems. This vision is closely linked to our commitment as a society to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to ensure the well-being of all people around the world.

As Alfred Nobel once said, "If I have a thousand ideas and only one turns out to be good, I am satisfied,” which highlights the value of continuing to invest in research that will enable us to find the next cure for cancer or other conditions for which there are unmet needs or no drugs available.