EMJ GOLD: Pharma news, views and analysis

In the final episode of this series, Leslie Cho focuses on prevention. From lifestyle interventions and pregnancy-related risk to menopause, brain health, and cholesterol management, she shares practical strategies clinicians can use today to improve long-term cardiovascular outcomes for women.

Leslie Cho, a cardiology expert on sex-specific heart disease and microvascular dysfunction, discusses why cardiovascular data often fails women. She covers trial design flaws, exclusion of childbearing-age women, symptom bias in care, and the prevalence and underdiagnosis of microvascular disease. Tests like cardiac PET and MRI and access challenges are also explored.

Yacin Marzouki, omnichannel expert who shapes customer journeys and aligns global strategy with local execution. He frames AI as pharma’s biggest unknown and opportunity. Short takes cover AI governance, costs and privacy, pricing and policy volatility, and the push to better activate existing content across channels.

Leaders discuss treating health as growth infrastructure to boost innovation and access in Europe. They explore AI-driven personalization in scientific communications. The conversation highlights scaling women's health research and solutions. Risks covered include underinvestment, access delays, AI-generated misinformation, and workforce shortages.

Jonathan Sackier, a surgeon-entrepreneur and medical tech innovator, reflects on the challenges and triumphs of 2025's healthcare landscape. Hanna Svanbäck, Eli Lilly’s neuroscience head, sheds light on access issues in Alzheimer’s care and key collaborations enhancing diagnosis. Yacin Marzouki, an omnichannel expert, discusses the uneven adoption of strategies between global and local markets, emphasizing the importance of local engagement. Together, they explore regulatory upheavals, scientific breakthroughs, and the stigmas affecting dementia support.

In Part 3, Carol Pitcher-Towner, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, explores how the pharmaceutical industry can become part of the solution. She highlights why leadership diversity matters, how trial design still excludes too many women and why embedding sex- and gender-aware science from day one could accelerate fairer, more effective care for everyone. Speaker bio Carol Pitcher-Towner is Senior Vice President and Head of Development Programs at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals. Since joining the company in 2014 as one of its first European regulatory leaders, she has gone on to oversee patient safety, risk management and Alnylam's global development portfolio. With more than 20 years of experience, including roles at AstraZeneca, Carol brings deep expertise across regulatory affairs and clinical development. She holds a PhD in Biological Sciences from the University of Warwick and was named an HBA Luminary in 2022 for her commitment to inclusive, patient-focused innovation. This content was reviewed by Alnylam UK Ltd for compliance with regulations applicable to the pharmaceutical industry only.

In Part 2, Carol Pitcher-Towner, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, breaks down the systemic forces driving inequity, from diagnostic bias to the lack of women in key specialties like cardiology, and explains how historical clinical trial exclusion continues to skew the science. Discover why representation isn't just a workforce issue: it's a scientific necessity, and the first barrier we must dismantle to ensure better care for everyone. Speaker bio Carol Pitcher-Towner is Senior Vice President and Head of Development Programs at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals. Since joining the company in 2014 as one of its first European regulatory leaders, she has gone on to oversee patient safety, risk management and Alnylam's global development portfolio. With more than 20 years of experience, including roles at AstraZeneca, Carol brings deep expertise across regulatory affairs and clinical development. She holds a PhD in Biological Sciences from the University of Warwick and was named an HBA Luminary in 2022 for her commitment to inclusive, patient-focused innovation. This content was reviewed by Alnylam UK Ltd for compliance with regulations applicable to the pharmaceutical industry only.

This week, Isabel sits down with Carol Pitcher-Towner, Senior Vice President and Head of Development Programmes, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, to unpack the gender inequities that continue to tarnish modern healthcare. Together, they explore the realities behind unequal outcomes and the steps needed to build a more inclusive future for patients. In Part 1, Carol eveals the personal experiences that made gender inequity impossible to ignore and uncovers where today's biggest gaps still exist. From disease areas where women are routinely misdiagnosed to the persistent blind spots shaping clinical practice, this episode exposes the uncomfortable truths that are still costing lives, and why fixing them can no longer be optional. Speaker bio Carol Pitcher-Towner is Senior Vice President and Head of Development Programs at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals. Since joining the company in 2014 as one of its first European regulatory leaders, she has gone on to oversee patient safety, risk management and Alnylam's global development portfolio. With more than 20 years of experience, including roles at AstraZeneca, Carol brings deep expertise across regulatory affairs and clinical development. She holds a PhD in Biological Sciences from the University of Warwick and was named an HBA Luminary in 2022 for her commitment to inclusive, patient-focused innovation. This content was reviewed by Alnylam UK Ltd for compliance with regulations applicable to the pharmaceutical industry only.

In Part 3, Hanna Svanbäck discusses the future of Alzheimer's care over the next five to 10 years, how trial design could be improved and reveals her opinion on the most exciting healthcare innovation on the horizon. Speaker bio Hanna Svanbäck is the Executive Director for Neuroscience, Eli Lilly, overseeing operations in the UK, Ireland and the Nordic countries. Hanna has over 15 years of experience at Lilly and is proud to lead the Neurosciences function given Lilly's long-standing commitment to advancing scientific innovation in this field. Hanna's passion for science and her dedication to utilising innovative approaches to enhance patient care are underpinned by her academic studies in Engineering Genomics and Biotechnology from the University of Umeå, Sweden and University of Manchester. Follow us on Instagram: @emj.gold

In Part 2, Hanna Svanbäck discusses the latest and most significant innovations in Alzheimer's care. She also considers whether healthcare systems are prepared for the anticipated surge in cases, and shares some positive news about prevention. Speaker bio Hanna Svanbäck is the Executive Director for Neuroscience, Eli Lilly, overseeing operations in the UK, Ireland and the Nordic countries. Hanna has over 15 years of experience at Lilly and is proud to lead the Neurosciences function given Lilly's long-standing commitment to advancing scientific innovation in this field. Hanna's passion for science and her dedication to utilising innovative approaches to enhance patient care are underpinned by her academic studies in Engineering Genomics and Biotechnology from the University of Umeå, Sweden and University of Manchester.