Sanofi, AstraZeneca and BeiGene senior leaders reflect on 2023 and voice outlook for the year ahead

Pharma News: As 2023 draws to a close, senior leaders in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors paused to reflect on their organisations’ impactful contributions and the outlook for the future. Sanofi, AstraZeneca and BeiGene leaders shared their insights, pointing to inspiring anecdotes that fuelled their commitment to driving meaningful change.

Karen Hood, Country Lead at Sanofi ANZ, radiated pride at the company’s commitment to fostering innovation and collaboration. She emphasised Sanofi’s efforts in R&D and advocating for equitable access to innovative medicines and vaccines.

“Our investment in the Translational Science Hub is one of many examples of us backing our science and fuelling Australia’s medical innovation potential,” she highlighted.

Sanofi’s dedication to social impact also shone through, with focus on environmental sustainability, workplace inclusivity, and community volunteering. These efforts culminated in the company’s recognition as the Australian Financial Review’s Best Place to Work in Healthcare.

For Ben McDonald, Country President of AstraZeneca ANZ, pride emanated from the team’s impact in expanding patient access to innovative medicines. He highlighted the company’s pivotal role in advocating for lung cancer screening, a campaign spearheaded by the Lung Foundation of Australia.

“It was also an incredible recognition to receive the Health Industry Hub Award for Outstanding Medical Conversations and the Prime Award for GP’s Choice Pharma Company of the Year for the third year running. I was also honoured to be appointed as the inaugural chair of the Medicines Australia Medical Sustainability Group, to help drive sustainability outcomes in the pharmaceutical industry,” he added.

Adam Roach, VP and Head of Asia Pacific at BeiGene, conveyed immense pride in the impactful work of his team, saying “It is a privilege to be a part of a company that is making such an impact globally and now Australia-wide.”

How did these leaders find inspiration amidst this year’s challenges? Ms Hood found resonance in the mantra ‘We Never Settle,’ encapsulating the relentless pursuit of excellence embedded within Sanofi’s ethos.

“When I look at what we have achieved toward our Play to Win strategy, our agility in catering to our customers, our focus on life-transforming scientific portfolios, and our progress in leveraging AI responsibly, all reflect our commitment to never settle,” she remarked.

Quoting Margaret Mead’s words ‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has’, Mr Roach highlighted the power of the collective in impacting meaningful change, a sentiment that fuelled his resilience during challenging times.

Mr McDonald found inspiration in a poignant meeting with a patient association where the significance of new medicines in instilling hope among terminally ill patients was vividly conveyed.

“I specifically recall the patients saying ‘any advancement in research and treatment is what we need’,” he explained.

Looking ahead to the new year, Mr Roach emphasised the imperative of partnerships, recognising the collective strength that arises from unified efforts.

“Within this industry, we are not competitors, but partners. The challenges we face are too big for any one stakeholder to solve alone. We can only ensure success through cooperation, collaborations, and partnership. Growing our small group of committed citizens means we can achieve more,” he passionately conveyed.

Mr McDonald’s optimism stemmed from “Our wonderful patient and medical community,” indicating their joint advocacy for “faster and broader access to innovative medicines for Australians and New Zealanders.”

For Ms Hood, the greatest sense of optimism was voiced with “Sanofians’ incredible strength, desire, and ability to increase the impact we make,” painting a picture of hope and resilience for the new year.

As these senior leaders reflect on 2023, their shared vision of collaboration, innovation, and advocacy sets a promising tone for the future of the industry and the meaningful changes to patient lives.

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