Innovation for value analyzes the use of big data and the new power it gives to patients

The conference on health innovation Innovation for value, held on November 8 in Barcelona, has analyzed the opportunities offered by technological advances in the field of health. The conference, organized by the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) and the Platform for Innovation in Medical and Health Technologies (ITEMAS), has been attended by some of the most important leaders in the health field at international level.

During the meeting, held at the University Hospital of Bellvitge, Robert Hermann, of McKinsey & Company, presented the situation of biotechnology in Europe through a map identifying the biotech companies in the continent, their focuses of interest, the areas in which they work and how investments are being made in this field.

In addition, during the day, the different funding options that health research has in both our country and Europe were discussed. Regarding public funding, José Luis Romera, from the Center for Industrial and Technological Development (CDTI), recalled that in the 40 years that the institution has been active, more than 26,000 million euros have been allocated for projects. And, in the last year, they have funded more than 1,700 projects, with an expenditure of 750 million euros.

Regarding private investments in healthcare, some of the speakers stressed that, when investing, international venture capital funds still depend on national risk capital when they want to lead the fundung of a project. Hence, when a healthcare project seeks private funding, it is best to locate a local Venture Capital firm that allows them to access international funds.

Innovation in the health system through data.

On the other hand, during the conference, the application of big data within the health system was also discussed. In the panel, where Juan Carlos Sánchez Rosado from IBM, Jordi Serrano Pons from Universal Doctor, Francisco de Paula Rodríguez from Medtronic and Frederic Llordachs from Doctoralia participated, it was highlighted that “one of the most important issues is that the patient becomes aware that their data empowers them against companies, especially in the case of insurance intermediaries.”

However, the protection of such data and health security are sensitive issues when applying advances in technology, so “we should learn from other sectors with similar problems, such as the financial system", they concluded in the panel.

Regenerative and personalized medicine.

Advances in research have allowed the development of a regenerative and personalized medicine that is creating a new paradigm on the development of intellectual property, which is why it is a profitable issue for the health system.

Damián García-Olmo, who has developed the first European drug based on donor stem cells, as well as Andreas Weiler from Novartis, Iain Miller from Healthcare Strategies Group and Bertil E. Lindmark from eTheRNA Immunotherapies, analyzed the CAR-T cell revolution, "a true example of personalized medicine that makes hospitals and pharmacies work together in a coordinated way to offer the right treatment to the right patient."

Innovation for value successfully completed its first edition after analyzing and discussing new trends within the health sector, what is in acceptance in the market and how these innovations affect scientific research.