Pau Ricos Muñoz - Managing Director and Neurology Head, UCB Iberia

EF: Could you share the current priorities on your agenda and what we can expect from UCB Spain in 2024? 

PRM: A main priority for 2024 is to continue positively impacting Spanish and Portuguese societies, bringing products in dermatology and new therapeutic alternatives for psoriasis, which we already have in the market. Our focus is on neurology and immunology, and we are entering the field of rare diseases, which is an important addition. Osteoporosis is an area that has had no new products for a long time. We have launched a product for severe osteoporosis with a high risk of fragility fractures, an excellent therapy for patients with positive results. We have new products and provide therapeutic alternatives in neurology for epileptic encephalopathies, which have a lower prevalence but are devastating. In addition to that, we recently launched an innovative drug for psoriasis patients in Spain. All the above has made 2023 very intense for UCB, and we expect the same for 2024. We feel extremely enthusiastic. Our unifying central pillar to move forward is sustainability; with healthcare professionals, patients, patient associations, and public and private healthcare institutions, we work on unmet needs in therapeutic areas where we can make a difference. Next year will be our 50th anniversary. We want to celebrate with everyone who has been part of this journey: healthcare professionals, patients, public and private institutions, and the UCB team. 

EF: With UCB´s positive impact on Spain, what is your pitch to HQ to attract resources?  

PRM: Spain is an important country to UCB Global. In the so-called EU5, Spain is the second country in Europe in terms of net sales contribution, and in neurology, it is the highest. Spain is a dynamic country with a stake in innovation, and its strategic importance for Europe is clear. The clinical trial ranking shows Spain at the top, with the potential to become an innovation hub in clinical investigation and strategic production relevant at a European level. The pharma industry, the Health Ministry, the Ministry of Industry, and other public and private entities are working to be a reference at a Europen level. UCB has more than thirty clinical trials in Spain, of which 70% are in phases two and three, and some even in phase one, indicating the strength and cross-industry collaboration in the sector in Spain.  

EF: UCB works with many stakeholders. Could you elaborate on your initiatives and where you hope to go with your different collaborations?  

PRM: We always start with the same question: What else can be done to improve our patients' quality of life? Once we have identified the unmet needs, we work shoulder-to-shoulder with entities such as patient associations. We recently allied with three other pharma companies involved in epilepsy, with FEDE (Federacion Española de Epilepsia), the Sociedad Española de Epilepsia, la Sociedad Española de Neurologia, and the Sociedad Española de Neuropediatria, to implement a national plan to address epilepsy. It is a huge platform of multiple stakeholders collaborating to take this matter to Congress, create laws, and enforce a national epilepsy plan. We also focus on creating platforms in different forums with as many stakeholders as possible to discuss challenges in the healthcare system and how to become more efficient and sustainable in the long term.  

We have programs for patient and family support and work encompassing interconnected areas.  

EF: UCB brings innovative and complex new treatments. How do you assess access to innovative therapies in Spain, and what is your definition of access?  

PRM: Access to innovation is a common goal for the pharma industry and public and private health institutions in Spain. We all want innovation to be accessible to all patients regardless of where they live, their social conditions, and their income level and we aspire to provide equitable access for all. That is an ideal definition of access, but we strive to make it happen. In Spain, we have been through some difficult years lately; access to innovation has suffered, but there has been a positive rebound in the last months. UCB aims to be a trustful partner for sustainable access.  

EF: In such a competitive market, how does UCB attract and retain the best talent in the industry?  

PRM: To achieve our sustainability, we must attract and retain talent to the company. To do so, we must generate a good and positive working environment to show the best version of ourselves and our maximum talent. UCB is committed to developing all the necessary tools and spaces for our staff so they know it is a safe and healthy environment where people feel valued. We have programs destined for employees; each person can, for example, recognize a co-worker's work as a positive company trait that can be done cross-sectionally. We also have a well-being program to support our people and help with physical and mental issues. Currently, we work in a hybrid model, which has helped balance our personnel's professional and personal lives; the timetable, working hours, and locations are flexible. I believe we must all be supportive of others, and at UCB, we all look after each other, making the workplace a safe and good place to be. We have been recognized as a Great Place to Work by a leadership organization with a 96% score engagement, among the highest in the pharma industry. We commit to each worker's growth, and we are the only company with certifications in epilepsy from the Sociedad Española de Epilepsia and dermatology from the Sociedad Española de Dermatologia, which shows our commitment to training and education. 

EF: After working for UCB for twenty-five of its fifty years in Spain, how will you celebrate the company's fiftieth anniversary in 2024?  

PRM: I feel immense gratitude for all the support and encouragement that made it possible to celebrate our fifty years in Spain. I am grateful to the UCB people, nationally and globally, the healthcare personnel, and the public and private institutions that have walked with us on our journey. Without them, we wouldn’t be where we are, and it has been a privilege to be part of the experience. We want to celebrate with them and thank them. For fifty years, we have provided many therapeutic options for unmet medical needs, such as epilepsy, rheumatology, and dermatology, to improve our patients´ lives. Soon, we will be doing the same for rare diseases. We will celebrate as it´s deserved, and we will thank everybody for making the extraordinary normal. 

EF: Do you have a final message to share? 

PRM: Our purpose is to question what more can be done to generate a positive impact in society. It is why we work every day, and we look forward to the day when we can create therapeutic alternatives focused not on the symptomatological but on drugs capable of modifying the progression of the disease, maybe even someday eradicating chronic pathologies. That is our dream and purpose, and no easy objective. It´s our biggest challenge, and we will need the help of many to succeed, as we can't do it alone. 

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