The field of oncology moves fast. In just a few decades, groundbreaking discoveries have revolutionized how we approach cancer treatment and inspired countless developments. However, we as an industry have to close the gap between scientific innovation and patient access to make a real difference for people living with cancer.

An estimated 235,760 people living in the United States were diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in 2021.¹ A lung cancer diagnosis is life-altering, and while we have made great strides in accurate diagnosis and treatment, there is still work to be done to ensure patients with lung cancer feel supported and armed with the information and resources they need to best manage this incredibly challenging journey.

Working in the healthcare industry across patient advocacy, value, access, policy and law for more than 30 years, I’ve been inspired by the tremendous progress we’ve made in developing novel treatments for patients.

Health inequity has been a longstanding global dilemma – one that I personally feel compelled to help address, especially in oncology.

In recent years, we’ve seen remarkable progress in combatting devastating cancers, with the rise of immunotherapies across a breadth of therapeutic modalities, from antibody-based immunomodulators to cell-based therapies to other emerging technologies. And yet, while there are more than 30 approved immunotherapies on the market today, only about 15-20% of patients respond to available treatments, demonstrating a necessity for more effective and tolerable options.

Over the past two decades, advancements in the industry have shifted how we diagnose, classify and ultimately treat certain cancers according to an individual’s molecular profile – a practice known as precision medicine. What does this transformative approach, and the diagnostics needed to achieve it, mean for the oncology industry, and most importantly, for patients with cancer? What gaps still remain, and how can stakeholders come together to address them?

Health economics (HE) analyzes the costs and consequences of healthcare interventions to evaluate their effects on patient-related clinical, humanistic, and economic outcomes.
At Takeda, we are committed to advancing the principles and practice of HE by collaborating with strategic partners to identify innovative and bold solutions that help ensure patients have access to our medicines.

After over a year and a half of working from home, I looked forward to returning to the office as part of our new hybrid working environment. I’m a people person, and I really missed the energy that comes when working with colleagues face to face.

Earlier this month, I attended The Economist’s World Cancer Series: Europe event, which brought together leaders from across the oncology ecosystem to discuss how we can improve cancer care on a global scale.

Today’s oncology field force in the pharmaceutical industry—the people  responsible for connecting patient care teams with therapeutic innovations—looks much different than it has in recent years.

I am proud of how Takeda – like so many companies around the world – has adapted and embraced new ways of working over the past year-and-a-half. As Head of Global Oncology Patient Value, Policy and Access (PVPA) at Takeda, I also miss in-person interactions with my team and colleagues and look forward to returning to the workplace soon