How to improve healthcare access through data connectivity
Dimitris Polygenis offers insights into the impact of technology in the pharma industry and targeted gene therapies (1,250 words, 6 minutes)
In a bid to transform healthcare, Dimitris Polygenis, the President of Biopharma and Payer Solutions at McKesson Canada, has identified data connectivity as the linchpin for advancement.
Polygenis, who has witnessed the industry’s struggle with isolated data silos, emphasizes the necessity of integrating data from various sectors of the healthcare system to unlock the potential for a more cohesive and effective healthcare environment. His insights come when the life sciences industry grapples with the challenges of leveraging technology and innovation to improve outcomes despite the significant progress. Polygenis’s perspective highlights the critical need for strategic collaboration to bridge the data divide, a task that remains daunting yet essential for the future of healthcare.
“I think we still suffer from a lack of connections between data that sits in our healthcare system, our payer community, and our prescriber community,” he said during an episode of the NPC Podcast from the National Pharmaceutical Congress. “But more connections and bridges are being made every day.”
Polygenis [pictured below] also mentioned that artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a potential game-changer in the industry. “Our Canadian leadership visited our head office in Dallas, where we spent a whole week talking about AI and how we can think more digitally and create a digital mindset culture,” he said. “We spent much time examining case studies and discussing what AI means for us.”
He said that because McKesson works with many stakeholders, they can look at technology and AI from other lenses. “If you look at the pharma partners we work with, they’re becoming more tech organizations,” he said. “Their innovations often focus on how they can use technology and platforms to bring products to the market more quickly or to make [the therapies] more targeted,” Polygenis said, adding that gene therapy centres around the use of technology to target treatments better.
Polygenis noted that gene therapies, while effective, are expensive to produce. In his opinion, this will continue to be a significant challenge for providers.
“But I would say the logistics around how we bring those innovations to patients is going to be revolutionary,” he said. “We have minimal experience, but what we’re seeing today with these challenging gene therapies is that they’re manufactured offshore somewhere and delivered right to the point of care, sometimes within a day or two.”
THIS WEEK 02/06/24
Health Canada approved a supplemental New Drug Application for Astellas Pharma’s enzalutamide (Xtandi) for the treatment of high-risk patients with non-metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer.
Sumitomo Pharma and Pfizer Canada announced the availability of relugolix 40 mg, estradiol 1 mg and norethindrone acetate tablets 0.5 mg tablets (Myfembree) in Canada for the treatment of moderate to severe pain associated with endometriosis and heavy menstrual bleeding associated with uterine fibroids in premenopausal women.
Eli Lilly Canada’s baricitinib (Olumiant) received a Notice of Compliance from Health Canada for treating severe alopecia areata in adult patients.
BeiGene announced that the Governments of Ontario and Quebec have publicly listed zanubrutinib (Brukinsa), a second-generation inhibitor of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase, for treating chronic lymphocytic leukemia in adult patients.
LISTEN UP
In season 12 of the NPC Podcast, Corinne Buchanan-Russell, co-founder of Advancing Black Talent in Pharma, gives insights into the responsibility of leaders to foster diversity, the perils of academic streaming, employee resource groups, and more. Hear her in conversation with podcast hosts Mitch Shannon, Jim Shea and Mark McElwain.
CANADIAN HEALTHCARE MARKETING HALL OF FAME
The Canadian Healthcare Marketing Hall of Fame awards were established in 2002 to honour healthcare marketers who have contributed to our vocation and inspire others.
More than 100 honourees have been selected during the past 21 years. In the selection committee’s view, they represent a cross-section of the qualities that make our business unique and fulfilling. NPC Healthbiz Weekly will acknowledge the 2023 Hall of Fame Honorees over the next few weeks. Nominate a colleague for the 2024 Canadian Healthcare Marketing Hall of Fame here.
2023 Inductee
Sandra Heller
General Manager, Canada
Seagen Canada
Mississauga, Ont.
Sandra Heller is a big believer in seizing opportunities and developing skills beyond the confines of one’s current position. When she started on her career path with a consulting firm specializing in Patient Support Programs (PSPs), she stepped out of her comfort zone to delve into the diverse aspects of the industry, including evaluating Return on Investment (ROI) and navigating the complexities of payer submissions. Her willingness to take on extra responsibilities prepared her well for her current role as General Manager of Seagen Canada.
“My credo is ‘Don’t let only a job description define your job,’” she says. “Look at ways to grow or learn new things by talking to your manager and seeing if there are any additional tasks or responsibilities that you can take on. This includes stretch assignments or volunteering for parts of projects in other areas.”
Seagen is a global biotechnology company that develops and commercializes target cancer therapies with antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) technology at its core. Over her past eight years of leading the company in Canada, Heller has witnessed remarkable growth, going from a small five-person team commercializing one product to now an affiliate with three products and just over 40 employees. “The fact that we were able to achieve two product approvals and launches during the pandemic is one of our most incredible achievements,” she notes.
One factor contributing to Seagen’s success is its smaller size than other pharma companies. “In my experience, managing a smaller pharma company has several advantages. First, there are often fewer decision-makers, so one can make decisions faster and move to action faster. Secondly, smaller organizations tend to have a more entrepreneurial approach, which often translates into the ability to provide more personalized and customized approaches.”
Like many other pharma executives managing various responsibilities, Heller grapples with the challenges of striking a work-life balance for herself and her employees. “I’m a wife, a mother of three teenage girls, and have a busy life outside work.” But establishing a balance doesn’t mean drawing lines by saying you won’t work past 5 p.m., she is quick to add. “It means being clear and realistic with your manager and team about the times you may not be able to work longer hours while understanding that your role may require longer hours. As a leader, I also feel it’s important to be aware of your team’s workload and ensure that you support re-prioritizing responsibilities to ensure your employees are properly balancing work and life.”
Please participate in our survey on access to drugs for Canadians and the impact of U.S. politics
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