Read the Conversation
EF: When you were appointed, what kind of goals did you set for yourself, and what motivated you to travel to Spain?
CS: After my experience in Germany, I returned to Brazil. But I really always dreamed of returning to Europe, specifically to Spain. A country that I consider myself part of and where its languages and cultures are very similar to mine. Its wonderful history has always fascinated me, and I got to know it thanks to friends who already lived here or had lived some work and life experiences in Spain. All this motivated my desire to move with my family to enjoy the country and all it has to offer.
Fortunately, Biogen has a genuine interest in the people who form part of this company and in our development. I have had the privilege and opportunity to continue my professional journey in the United States prior to my move to Europe. A crucial step in my career. Today, I can say that my dream came true, that Biogen and my colleagues are my home.
EF: What part does Biogen's Spanish subsidiary play in their overall strategy, and what benefits can Spain derive from Biogen?
CS: At Biogen, we are broadening our horizons. As our CEO Chris Viehbacher said. 2024 looks to be a great year where we will see our portfolio become more diversified without losing sight of our values, taking care of the details to make our business sustainable and predictable, and without losing sight of our commitment to patients and their health. We are a biotechnology company, a pioneer in neuroscience, and we are working to continue to be a leader in rare diseases, as we are already doing in diseases such as multiple sclerosis and spinal muscular atrophy. In the latter case, we were the first to bring to market the first drug of its kind to tackle this disease.
Our company focuses on where others have given up. We have changed the lives of many patients with neuromuscular and neurodegenerative diseases, and now we also want to change the lives of those suffering from ALS, Friedreich's ataxia, and postpartum depression. With our partner Eisai, we are committed to transforming Alzheimer's disease.
As a member of the EU and with exceptional clinical development, Spain is one of our company's most important markets both in Europe and worldwide. Our centers are staffed by outstanding researchers who are committed and passionate about what we do. In addition, Biogen currently has 17 active clinical trials in Spain involving 340 patients, around 40 hospitals, and 60 investigators. I am proud to say that 2023 has made us a benchmark in clinical research not only in Europe but also worldwide. This reinforces the role that Spain plays for the company.
EF: What does access mean to you?
Access is the ability of a physician to prescribe the best treatment to a patient solely based on his clinical judgment. At Biogen, we are working to diversify our portfolio and bring products of great medical need to the Spanish market. It is clear that protocols exist and that there is a lot of ongoing research, regulatory evaluations, and other issues necessary to guarantee, between us all, that patients have access to treatments that have a positive impact on their quality of life. It is important to bear in mind that beyond diagnosis and medical prescription, patients take an active role in decision-making.
Over time, therapeutic solutions are becoming more complex, technology is more expensive, and countries are increasingly limited in the number of therapies available. However, if we take multiple sclerosis as an example, 20 years ago, only three therapies were available. Today, there are more than 25 therapies available to tackle the disease. Thanks to science and research, important achievements are being made that translate into wellness and health for patients, their families, and caregivers. Our commitment to the patient community leads us to strive to bring to the table our experience and all our tools to provide solutions to their specific needs. Our goal is to find the best solutions to provide access to these treatments for doctors as well as soon as possible.
EF: Budgets, as you know, are moved based on what is most discussed. How do you see the Spanish market and the availability of resources in terms of physicians capable of identifying and managing their product area?
CS: Over time, we have moved from worrying about diseases such as diarrhea, tuberculosis, and influenza to the diseases of the developed world, such as obesity, hypertension, and diabetes. Because of their prevalence, these diseases remain a cause for concern and have been the leading cause of death in many countries. Then there is oncology, which highlights the importance of personalized medicine.
When we look to the future, we see that people are living longer and have a higher quality of life. Spain is one of the top countries in the world in terms of life expectancy. Neurology is the new frontier of science; I say this because it is what will dominate science in the future. Degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's will become more common as the population ages. Neurology is also a frontier because we don't understand how some of these diseases work, so research is still needed to find out.
EF: How are digital health, digital therapies, and software as medicine influencing how doctors and physicians approach their therapeutic areas?
CS: Undoubtedly, technology is a great ally of science. It contributes substantially to improvements in the quality of life of patients, in the monitoring of their diseases, and allows the collection of valuable data that contributes to the monitoring of various pathologies and the evolution of the patient. It also facilitates early diagnosis and personalized medicine. This makes the disease more "predictable," as well as the cost and health impact on the lives of patients and their families. All this leads to improvements in traditional medicine.
Our commitment goes beyond science, research, and our therapies. We develop cutting-edge digital solutions with the aim to collaborate and support physicians in diagnosis. For example, we provide tools that help patients with diets and exercises, monitor their medication intake, and monitor the evolution of their pathology, among others, which complement the benefits of our therapies.
Regarding SOD1-ALS, we already have the phase III study of the therapy we are developing, which has been published in The New England Journal of Medicine. It may be the first therapy that starts to change the lives of this community of patients.
To sum up, we are always trying to use our digital tools to assess the real-life impact on patients. We are doing this in key areas such as MS, and we are collaborating along these lines on future therapies for Alzheimer's and other diseases.
EF: What are you most excited about in your pipeline?
Our firm commitment to innovation and disruptive research is backed by more than 40 years of experience at a global level and more than 21 years in the Spanish market. This path opens up a window of opportunity in 2024 in the search for cutting-edge solutions for complex diseases that will enable us to provide solutions to the specific needs of hundreds of patients.
At Biogen, we are very proud to say that we are embarking on a journey of diversification and expansion of our portfolio with a focus on improving the quality of life of patients and opening up to new pathologies such as Friedreich's ataxia, lupus, ALS, postpartum depression, Alzheimer's while strengthening our leadership in key areas such as multiple sclerosis and spinal muscular atrophy.
It´s difficult to choose one asset among so many, but I am very proud that Biogen has just received CHMP positive opinion for a potential first treatment for Friedreich´s Ataxia, a debilitating disease that affects people at a very young age.
EF: What would your speech be if you were celebrating 45 years with your team?
CS: I would say that we have been courageous, that we have stood together, and that it has made us stronger by achieving outstanding achievements that have allowed hundreds of patients to gain in quality of life and well-being thanks to our therapies. And that we have done it with determination, like no other company. But, above all, we have achieved this because we are a great team with a vision for the future and commitment, and we take risks to achieve great results. That is why we are redoubling our commitment for the years to come, always with the health of society in general as the banner of a company that cares not only for patients but also for its home and for those of us who are part of it.
