Rethinking Pharma’s approach to DEI
Frank Stramaglia outlines challenges of advancing workplace equality while remote (350 words, 2 min)
NPC Healthbiz Weekly is presented to you in cooperation with Peak Pharma Solutions
“As employers, we may need to rethink the benefits we offer employees, to ensure we are addressing the unique needs and challenges of our diverse employee population.” That’s according to Frank Stramaglia, general manager for Astellas Pharma Canada.
During the first of two virtual 15th National Pharmaceutical Congress sessions, Stramaglia (photo below) spoke about fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace.
Despite all the business pressures presented by the pandemic, DEI has remained a top priority for many senior executives, said Stramaglia. However, most of these executives found it difficult to execute DEI strategies during this time.
“Specifically, working parents are still struggling with challenges posed by the pandemic,” he explained. “Mothers with young children have reduced their work hours at a rate four to five times higher than fathers, to take on child care, home schooling, and household responsibilities. One in four women in corporate jobs have considered downshifting their career or leaving the workforce.”
“Working parents in pharmaceuticals are shifting the way the industry plans to work after emerging from the pandemic,” said Stramaglia. “Many Pharma organizations are deciding how to move forward, be it a fully remote environment, a hybrid mix of working at home and office, or a traditional office-based approach.”
Some pros of fully remote or hybrid working are the potential for better work-life balance, along with the opportunity to increase the talent pool and its diversity, as businesses will not be restricting career development based on proximity to the office or willingness to relocate, explained Stramaglia. A con is that not everyone thrives in a remote working environment.
“Another con [related to] hybrid [or remote] work is that women may end up working at home more than their male counterparts, creating inequality in career progression,” added Stramaglia.
“With both remote and hybrid ways of working, we need to explore the options and ensure DEI can be advanced in these settings,” said Stramaglia. “We don’t want to let the challenges impede our progress. We need to dig deep, understand what the barriers are to DEI, in order to come up with solutions that can help us improve in these meaningful areas.”
Further reading: McKinsey’s 2021 Women in the Workplace report found that women are even more burned out than they were mid-2020. Despite women being most likely to take on additional work to advance DEI initiatives, their work goes unrecognized and unrewarded at most companies. Read a summary of the report.
THIS WEEK 11/09/21
AstraZeneca Canada has started a rolling review New Drug Submission with Health Canada to get AZD7442, a long-acting antibody (LAAB) combination, approved for the prevention of symptomatic Covid-19. If approved, AZD7442 would be the first LAAB to receive Health Canada authorization for Covid-19 prevention.
The Menarini Group announced that the U.S. FDA granted orphan drug designation (ODD) to SEL24/MEN1703, a first in class, dual PIM/FLT3 inhibitor, for the treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). SEL24/MEN1703 is also being investigated in the DIAMOND-01 trial as a single agent in patients with relapsed/refractory AML.
GSK is recalling two lots of TUMS Assorted Berries Extra Strength Tablets, an antacid indicated for adult use, because the tablets may contain metal fragments. The products being recalled are sold in 750 mg bottles (lot 7B3G) and packages of three rolls containing eight tablets each (lot CS6M)
Novavax has completed its rolling submission to the World Health Organization (WHO) for emergency use listing (EUL) of NVX-CoV2373, their Covid-19 vaccine candidate. The submission includes clinical data from PREVENT-19, a Phase 3 trial of 30,000 participants in the U.S. and Mexico.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Season Five of the NPC Podcast explored Pharma’s purpose, process, and people with a diverse list of guests across eight episodes. Podcast host Peter Brenders spoke with guests on clinical trials, laws and regulations, investments in life sci, manufacturing, working with the Canadian government, and implications of Covid-19. Did you miss an episode? Catch up now!
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 18 years. In the selection committee’s view, they stand for a representative cross-section of the qualities that make our business unique and fulfilling. Each week, NPC Healthbiz Weekly will acknowledge one past Hall of Fame Honouree.
2019 Inductee
Suzanne Campbell
Montreal, QC.
Editor’s Note: Suzanne is currently Marketing Manager, Manage Eye Care, at AbbVie.
Suzanne Campbell, Senior Brand Manager and Brand Team Lead for Humira—Dermatology at AbbVie, has always had an interest in healthcare. After graduating with an Honours Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from the University of Toronto, Campbell started her pharmaceutical career at GSK. This was the beginning of a career focused on marketing pharmaceutical products that are on the cutting edge of science.
Campbell credits her success to the team around her, which coincidently encompasses a motto that has governed her career—Together Everyone Achieves More (TEAM). “I constantly see that any idea or strategy gets so much better when you have the brainpower of multiple colleagues and multiple perspectives,” said Campbell. “And that collaboration makes any project more robust.”
According to Campbell, it is not only her colleagues who make up her TEAM, but in the pharma industry, it is also physicians and patients. “I can’t even express the gratitude I have for the physicians who have partnered with us,” said Campbell.
Currently, Campbell is working with AbbVie on the launch and marketing of Humira for Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS), the first approved treatment for HS, a project that she is extremely proud of and passionate about. “The work I have done [on HS] over the last four to six years has been so meaningful, and so fulfilling in many ways, ” said Campbell. “Intellectually, it has been incredible to open up this unchartered territory of a disease that no company—and really no specialty—has spent a lot of time working on before.” Campbell also said that patients have kept her motivated. “When I started meeting people with HS, their patient journey, which had been a very negative one in the healthcare system, became my passion project.”
Throughout her career, Campbell has learned many lessons, but she says one that stands out is that it is okay to make mistakes. When mistakes are made, “this is where some of our greatest learning happens, ” said Campbell. “I do think it is important to let people know it is okay to make mistakes, that these are learning opportunities.”
In addition to being a leader in pharmaceutical marketing, Campbell has been actively involved in her community since the age of 13, starting with volunteer work at Montreal Children’s Hospital. This sense of community was instilled during her high school years, specifically, the Latin phrase Non Nobis Sed Erbi Et Orbi, which translates to Not for ourselves but for the community and the world. Later, Campbell got involved with the Toronto Fringe Festival and was on the Board of Directors for over 10 years. “I loved that I could contribute the skillset from my business life into the arts community,” she said.
For those looking to start a career in the pharma industry, Campbell said they have to be ready to work hard and be open to constant learning. “This industry offers incredible opportunity to make a difference and create change in the world. We have so much to be proud of, we really do make a remarkable impact on people’s lives.”
NEXT WEEK
In the 11/16 edition of the NPC Healthbiz Weekly, more from the star-studded panels of the 15th Annual National Pharmaceutical Congress. It’s easy to get your no-charge subscription and have the issue sent to your phone or inbox each Tuesday at 6:00 a.m. sharp.
Stay safe, stay sure, and stay on your game. We’ll see you again next week.