In this issue of PharmaTimes, we kickstart our coverage of three topics that we think will dominate debate in the year to come.
In Reputation Critical, we dip a toe into the murky waters of our industry’s reputation, asking what companies – and the ABPI – need to do to demonstrate and communicate the value of pharma to our important audiences.
February 29 is Rare Disease Day, the once-a-year opportunity to raise awareness of the 30 million people in Europe alone whose lives are directly affected by one of more than 7,000 rare diseases. In Rare Opportunity, we ask why companies are getting involved in this area and what challenges they face in developing treatments for small patient populations.
Patient-centricity has been a driving force inside pharma companies for some time but 2016 seems to be the year that everyone wants to talk about it. In Listen up!, we speak to senior executives from three pharma companies to find out what putting the patient at the centre means to them.
Our disease focus in this issue of PharmaTimes is a condition with no cure, globally rising incidence and devastating effects – Alzheimer’s disease. In Changing minds, we shine a light on some of the most promising new disease-modifying treatments and discuss the number one issue in dementia care – the need for better and earlier diagnosis. We also offer up a patient perspective on living with the disease in Patient Files.
Hugh Gosling, Editor
