Diversity on biopharmaceutical boards not only makes sense – It benefits healthcare as a whole
10.04.14
I certainly do – but not everyone agrees with me, as you can see from the reactions to a recent study showing that around 40% of Board of Directors of biopharmaceutical companies include at last one academic medical centre (AMC) leader. The study, published in in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), notes the possible far-reaching consequence – such as influence over research, clinical and educational objectives, as well as the potential for conflicts of interest.
Commentators seem to see the presence of AMC leaders on Boards as bad news. I am surprised: I would have expected them to say, “good news that so many companies have strong academics on their boards to ensure that the research priorities are the right ones”. Many times I have heard people say that pharma needs to be more tuned in with societal needs and that priorities should be set in consultation with the scientific and medical communities. I would have thought that people would welcome having well-reputed scientists at the very top of these companies. What better way to influence what big pharma is doing?
Bringing academic professionals to pharma boards is fantastic news for patients. It’s another step towards ensuring that the industry is “tuned in” to real world needs – something we are increasingly working towards, as we collaborate more widely with diverse stakeholders in discussions on healthcare and research agendas. The upcoming second Innovative Medicines Initiative, which relied heavily on the World Health Organization’s Report on Priority Medicines for Europe and the World in determining its Strategic Research Agenda is one example. IMI2 is a continuation of the first Innovative Medicines Initiative, which has already shown how collaborative efforts can bring rewards – something EFPIA’s Director of Science Policy, Magda Chlebus, has championed in many of her blogs.
I have also frequently noted the importance of open discussion and collaboration, not only in the pharmaceutical industry but also in the healthcare industry as a whole. The healthcare industry is huge and covers many facets – and it will only benefit by hearing from a diversity of voices, whether from patients to practicing doctors, pharmaceutical industry leaders, researchers, academics, governments, payers and others.
To me, this also applies to the Boards of biopharmaceutical companies. Having AMC leaders on these Boards should be considered a plus — pharmaceutical companies and the healthcare industry as a whole benefit from their expertise. I hope that one day 100% of biopharmaceutical companies will have academic experts on their boards.
