Special Edition Women in Pharma: Women’s health and the pharmaceutical industry

International Women’s Day is an annual celebration of women around the world every March 8. March also marks Women’s History Month. This March, our Women in Pharma series takes a look at how women’s healthcare has developed, and the role of the pharmaceutical industry in these issues. 

Minding the gaps in women’s healthcare and pharmaceuticals 

Women’s healthcare, though having witnessed some innovation in recent years, continues to lag in terms of research and solutions. The exclusion of women from clinical trials (even in those testing pharmaceuticals targeting female disease indications) has contributed to a deleterious effect on how women’s healthcare and pain are treated [2]. A 2020 study found that the representation of women in industry-sponsored clinical trials only accounted for 29–34% of total participants in early-phase clinical trials [3]. 

The pharmaceutical industry has historically excluded women from the trial discussion due to concerns pertaining to pregnancy and fertility. However, the exclusion of almost half the world population from such trials results in a lack of clinical data on not only how physiological differences affect drug efficacy and safety, but also the effects of pregnancy and breastfeeding patients [4].  While pregnant or breastfeeding patients are not exempt from experiencing the same diseases as the rest of the population, they have historically been excluded from clinical trials for therapeutics that are intended for use regardless of gender. 80% of COVID-related clinical trials worldwide, for example, excluded pregnant women despite their being more susceptible to severe illness [5]. As a result, pregnant women in the UK were unable to access COVID-19 vaccines until mid-April 2021, 5 months after the initial vaccine rollout, and studies on the vaccines effects on placental transfer, breastfeeding, and the infant’s immunity were not available until mid-2021 [6].  

Matevž Ambrožič, Marketing & PR Director at PharmaLinea, expands on some of the main gaps that remain in how women’s healthcare is treated. “The availability of tailored solutions and education are the main gaps,” Ambrožič states. “Women’s health is often simplified to include only sexual and reproductive health, which meaningfully underrepresents women’s health burden. According to McKinsey Health Institute (2024), sexual and reproductive health including maternal, newborn, and children’s health account for approximately 5% of women’s health burdens. An estimated 56% of the burden comes from health conditions that are more prevalent and/or manifest differently in women. Women are more likely to be affected by a sex-specific condition between the ages of 15 and 50. Nearly half of the health burden affects women in their working years, which has an impact on their ability to support themselves and their families.” 

Heidi Floyd, a Patient Advocate and International Speaker, also notes the impact of intersectional identities on the gaps faced by different women in healthcare and pharmaceuticals. “The absence of the female patient voice – particularly those of colour – are oft neglected in women’s healthcare,” she comments. “There seems to be a practice of including certain patient advocate groups every once in a while, but they are typically homogeneous and feel like their participation is more of a task completion than true inclusion.” 

The female patient’s voice 

Clinical trials and the participating population are only one part of the solution – though the wider pharmaceutical supply chain, from procurement of ingredients to manufacturing and distribution of the drug products, might seem further removed from the final patient, genuine gender equity and diversity should be an industry-wide effort.  

“The pillars where the pharma industry can contribute are three-fold: research on the efficacy of ingredients and products, development of products, and education of both HCPs and consumers,” Ambrožič states. “While in the pharma industry [clinical trials are] a given, areas such as nutraceuticals treat clinical trials as more of a bonus step. This is therefore the first focus point the industry should have across all health products. Only through well-designed clinical trials on ingredients and finished products can we base credible product development that will bring lasting solutions for women.” 

Floyd also highlights how the supply chain itself can promote the voices of women in their operations. “Supply chain and pharmaceutical industries could invite patient advocates to their gatherings, be it local monthly meetings or a national annual event – get [patients and advocates] on the stage, in panels, and in keynote addresses,” she urges. “Allow them to share their lives, their fears, and most importantly, their joys. So many of us are truly and incandescently thankful for the work being done by these industries and we never get a chance to express that thanks.” 

Pharmaceuticals for women by women 

In 2022, The Guardian followed the production line of hormonal drug products involving oestrogen in a bid to understand a shortage of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) medicines. This acute shortage in particular affected women experiencing menopause. Effects of HRT withdrawal can cause much more severe symptoms of menopause, debilitating a large swathe of the global population [7]. 

Difficulties in obtaining female-specific drug products are not the only pharmaceutical challenges women face. “We have a good amount of PMS, menopause, and prenatal products, but not for bone health or cardiovascular health products for women – despite their needs in those areas being potentially dramatically different from men’s,” Ambrožič comments. 

Companies specialising in women’s pharmaceutical products do exist – Shorla Oncology boasts a portfolio of specialty pharmaceuticals for women’s and children’s cancers, while Theramex provides both drug products and educational support on contraception, fertility, menopause, and osteoperosis. While these companies are far from the norm, Ambrožič is positive about the future for women’s pharmaceuticals. “As research progresses and consumers expect more and more personalisation, we expect that nearly every product will be specifically targeted at separate demographic groups, including women,” Ambrožič states. “We’re also excited to see the beginnings and hope for more development in femtech – wearable devices, self-test kits, apps specific to women and women’s health issues, all feeding data back to and altering the supplementation or medication regime.” 

The power of women in healthcare leadership positions 

The wider pharmaceutical supply and value chain can also benefit from the prioritisation of women’s healthcare and pharmaceuticals. With diversity at the top of the business ladder can come a greater range of ideas and innovative strategies for the industry [8]. Providing a safe environment to grow and make mistakes and empowering women to reach their full potential in the pharmaceutical workplace will challenge not only traditional barriers but also ways of thinking [8]. As an industry built on innovation and pushing the envelope, prioritising the role of women in leadership positions has real-world effects on the supply chain.  

Companies such as Singota Solutions, founded in 2006 by Alisa Kilgas, began with the aim of getting drug products and treatments to patients faster, filling gaps in the drug development process and aseptic manufacturing. Mission-Driven Tech, founded by Eve McDavid and Dr Onyinye Balogun, was created with the purpose of building female-centric medical devices for the eradication of cervical cancer. Outdated medical devices for the radiative treatment of cervical cancer often produced an intolerable patient experience with rigid devices, producing adverse reactions and reduced patient outcomes [9]. Mission-Driven Tech’s medical devices prioritise ease of administration and improved physical and mental health outcomes with anatomy-fitted devices through the prioritising of the female experience [9]. “It was only as recently as 2 years ago that Eve McDavid was diagnosed with cervical cancer and realised that the equipment and treatment for her cancer was created years before women were allowed to participate in clinical trials,” Floyd comments.  

These strides in women’s health products and pharmaceuticals can extend to the wider pharmaceutical community. Supply chain partners with the capacity to meet the demands for drugmakers Considering the needs of women and their specific anatomies can increase patient adherence and participation in clinical trials, furthering data on how drug products and pharmaceuticals affect a larger proportion of the population. Inclusivity does not stop at the top of the corporate ladder for pharmaceuticals – it affects all involved in the supply and value chain, from the executives to the patients. 

Summary 

The pharmaceutical industry has a responsibility to ensure patients everywhere have access to drug products, therapeutics, and drug and medical delivery devices that suit their needs and indications. The historical exclusion of women from medical spaces as both patients and professionals is changing but there is still a ways to go. Prioritising the inclusion of all voices, from men and women, in pharmaceuticals can help spur better healthcare outcomes with innovative products and devices. As Floyd concludes, the future of the industry will be “inclusion, inclusion, and more inclusion.” 

References

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