Looking to Build Stronger, More Responsive Health Systems Together

BBJ: Why are you visiting Roche Hungary now?

Jörg-Michael Rupp: Within Roche, I’m responsible for operations in more than 100 markets, including European countries like Hungary. Regular visits like this allow me to accompany my colleagues to meetings with partners, healthcare professionals and government officials as we look to build stronger, more resilient and responsive health systems together.

We recently invited stakeholders from around the country to an event co-created in partnership with the Swiss Embassy, the Swiss-Hungariaan Chamber of Commerce, and the Business Council for Sustainable Development in Hungary (BCSDH). Our focus was the sustainability of healthcare, meaning how we can maintain and improve the health and well-being of individuals, communities and populations over time.

Balancing today’s health demands with tomorrow’s healthcare needs is a challenge every country faces. Ultimately, progress begins with a mindset of shared responsibility.

BBJ: Hungary is a relatively small country. How important are its operations to Roche’s international business?

J-MR: Our legacy in Hungary goes back more than 40 years, and, as our continued investment in the country illustrates, it remains a very important and much-valued market internationally. Having created 746 new jobs in 2022 alone, we now employ 2,600-plus people in Hungary and are proud of the contribution we continue to make to the national economy. In addition to our pharmaceutical and diagnostics divisions, we have an SSC, which provides business services and solutions for Roche across Europe.

We also have 60 clinical trials underway in Hungary, which include 878 patients across 221 sites. Clinical trials have many benefits, including accelerating delivery of novel therapies, providing income, and generating cost savings through treatment and care. There is also evidence that patients have better outcomes when admitted to hospitals that carry out more clinical research.

BBJ: Is there any unique work going on here in Hungary?

J-MR: Hungary has been making tremendous progress in digital health initiatives, investing in related infrastructure and promoting the use of electronic health records. The patient pathway tool, ‘Dr.BetMen,’ is a great example. Co-created with the government, this is a prime example of how partnership and cooperation can drive digital transformation and improve patient care. It perfectly exemplifies Roche’s patient-centered approach and commitment to making innovative contributions to healthcare systems.

BBJ: What are the key global trends in pharma, and how is Hungary poised to adopt or accelerate them?

J-MR: Several key global trends are shaping the pharmaceutical industry’s future, and Roche plays a significant role in all of them. There is an increasing focus on personalized medicine, which involves tailoring medical treatments to individual patients and is driven by advancements in genomics and molecular diagnostics. AI has the potential to revolutionize healthcare, but must be used in a responsible way that benefits patients. The development and use of biopharmaceuticals, such as monoclonal antibodies and gene therapies, are on the rise. Biotechnology is enabling the discovery of novel treatments and revolutionizing disease management. Last but not least, there is a growing emphasis on preventative healthcare and well-being, rather than focusing solely on treatment. This includes lifestyle interventions, early disease detection and health promotion programs.

I’ve spent almost four decades in this industry, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that true progress in healthcare doesn’t happen in isolation. It’s about looking beyond national efforts and embracing more regional, or even global, collaboration. A great example is the upcoming EU General Pharmaceutical Legislation. What excites me is how it aims to bring back Europe’s spark in R&D and position us as leaders in innovation on the world stage. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime reform that could lead to a competitive yet collaborative environment that benefits everyone, most importantly, patients. It’s about creating an environment where life sciences thrive and patients across Europe, and indeed the world, have quicker and broader access to breakthrough treatments. At Roche, we are ready to engage in meaningful dialogue with legislators and lend our expertise and insights to ensure that this legislation not only meets but exceeds its potential.

BBJ: Pharma has always been about improving health outcomes through treatment. How has the process of how you go about that evolved during the time you have been working in the field?

J-MR: It has changed dramatically. For over 127 years at Roche, we have delivered innovations that have helped transform how diseases are treated. But for healthcare companies like ours, it is no longer enough simply to provide therapies and diagnostics. Our focus has shifted to being a partner at every step of a patient’s journey. That means detecting, diagnosing and treating health conditions much earlier. It means using technology to predict diseases before they develop and intervening as early as possible. It means unlocking the power of data to make health systems more sustainable and help more patients achieve better outcomes faster.

We have been laying the groundwork for this personalized healthcare approach. Tailored individual care results in so much more than improved patient outcomes; it reduces pressure on health systems, maintains a healthy and productive society, and drives future economic growth. Progress is being made. Consider cancer in Hungary: breast cancer deaths in women aged 45-64 decreased by 28.3% and incidence by 23.6% between 1980 and 2015. To achieve widespread access and long-term sustainability in healthcare, a collaborative approach and integrated infrastructure are essential. This entails combining advancements in science, analytics and digital technology with transformative changes in healthcare delivery and public policy.

BBJ: What will be the next revolution that those outside the business would not know about?

J-MR: The field of pharmaceuticals is constantly evolving with new advancements and breakthroughs. If we just look at the past 50 years:

- Until the 1970s, the average life expectancy for people with hemophilia was 11-13 years. Now, assuming therapy is started in childhood, people with severe hemophilia can have a normal life span. 

- The mortality rate for breast cancer in high-income countries has dropped by 40% since the 1980s.

- In 1980, there was no vaccination for HPV, so cervical cancer was not as preventable as it is today.

All these achievements were once considered out of reach, but they were made possible with the vision, dedication and tenacity of researchers worldwide. We are on the cusp of yet another seismic revolution in healthcare with the shift from treating disease to delivering patient-centered healthcare solutions. Personalized healthcare means better health at a lower cost for people and society. It means shifting from a one-size-fits-all approach to the best care for each person. We are excited by the prospect of applying AI to dramatically accelerate and transform our R&D of new therapeutics, diagnostics and treatments and bring incremental patient benefits. There are so many unmet needs and so much more to do, but we are committed to doing everything we can to help more people live longer, healthier lives.

This article was first published in the Budapest Business Journal print issue of April 19, 2024.