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We Won't Rest: Working together towards better patient outcomes

EFPIA and ITN Productions Industry News are co-producing an exciting new series of short films to explore how innovative science, partnerships and collaboration can improve the lives of patients across Europe. Each story takes a different perspective on connecting different actors and sectors of the research and healthcare eco-system to deliver more for patients. 
 
From COVID-19 to an ageing population and increased prevalence of chronic disease, Europe continues to face significant health challenges - and no single stakeholder can solve these problems alone. ‘We Won’t Rest: Working Together Towards Better Patient Outcomes’ explores the importance of developing partnerships between patients, patient organisations, healthcare providers, regulators, policy makers and life science companies in order to improve outcomes that really matter to patients.  
 
Just some of the topics covered in the series are; how vaccine developers, academic institutions and SMEs have worked together in the search for answers to COVID-19, a look at recent developments in treating Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA); Collaboration in action, the Industry-EU public-private partnership for health research – IMI and Data Saves Lives - exploring how coming together to explain the value of health data can help shape the future of medical research. 
 
The COVID-19 crisis has underlined, like never before, the power of collaboration in research and in healthcare. The series of films show just some examples of that collaboration in action.    

In the series we cover:
 
 
The progressive nature of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) means that the sooner someone is diagnosed; the sooner intervention can be made with treatments that can change the course of the disease. The programme features a report on Biogen, innovators in treatments for neurological conditions and collaborates with different stakeholders to find solutions for the SMA community. 
 
Also on the programme is the pharmaceutical company Novartis who uses data science and digital technology while working with medical teams, to provide continuity across healthcare, particularly cancer treatments. The company has developed digital tools to ensure that patients can be monitored remotely and ultimately, putting the patient first.   
 
A special report on pain features Grünenthal, who sees palliative care as a moral duty and human right and believes that end of life care should be achievable and accessible worldwide. Grünenthal has developed comprehensive care systems that include psychological, spiritual and social support for the patient and their families.  
 
Leo Pharma works in partnership with patients to gain a better understanding of diseases and chronic conditions, and the treatment plan that is needed. The company feels it is vital for patients to be involved in all the key steps as nobody is more informed than someone living with the condition.  

Inflammatory Bowel Disease has a mental as well as physical impact on patients. ‘We Won’t Rest: Working Together Towards Better Patient Outcomes’ features the biopharmaceutical company Pfizer who has developed a Lifestyle Management care platform in partnership with SideKick Health, to help people take control of their conditions by maintaining a healthier lifestyle and overall well-being.

When the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the globe, scientists and engineers at the Eli Lilly manufacturing site in Ireland were at the forefront of a project to tackle the shortage of a chemical agent called lysis buffer, a key component in Coronavirus PCR testing. Eli Lily formed a Covid Alliance team with 50 other industry academia to deliver an improved formula for making Lysis buffer. This helped Ireland to significantly increase weekly COVID-19 testing capacity at a critical stage of the pandemic. The increased testing capacity contributed to greater and faster identification of COVID-19 cases helping reduce the spread of the virus in Ireland. 

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Cancer diagnosis and treatment has been significant, with many cases undetected and treatments delayed. Astellas Pharma Europe are committed to improving patient outcomes by collaborating with patient groups and organisations, including the Bladder Cancer Charity and the European Cancer Patient Coalition.



These films are co-produced with ITN Productions Industry News