11 December 2019
By Anthony Farina, Chief Communications Officer and Vice President of Corporate Affairs
Whether you call it the “twenty-tens” or the “teens,” the second decade of the 21st Century is drawing to a close. We’re saying farewell to a decade in which CSL more than doubled its workforce to over 25,000 employees and tripled the annual investment in research & development to more than $800 million. Looking to the future, here are five reasons to be optimistic about the next 10 years for the entire biotech industry that serves patients with rare and serious diseases:
Gene Therapy: The scientific advancements in potential gene therapy treatments over the past decade cannot be overstated. The potential is offering new hope to patients living with rare and serious conditions, including sickle cell disease.
Artificial Intelligence: Harnessing the power of artificial intelligence and data science carries immense potential for patients, including shortening the time between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis. CSL Behring is working to unlock those possibilities while at the same time integrating the use of artificial intelligence throughout the organization, including manufacturing. The advanced technology will make CSL Behring a more efficient organization better positioned to serve patients.
Connected Healthcare: Ten years ago, smartphones were somewhat of a novelty. Today they’re a vital part of life for many, including patients. The increased global connectivity has brought new ways to access healthcare in the form of smartphone apps and wearables like fitness trackers and smartwatches. CSL Behring is exploring ways in which we can use connected healthcare to support both patients and healthcare providers.
Productive Partnerships: CSL Behring has been at the forefront of partnering with academia with an eye toward enhancing innovation. Since 2010, CSL Behring has established or enhanced its presence at leading research institutions including Philadelphia’s University City Science Center, Australia’s University of Melbourne, Germany’s University of Marburg and the Swiss Institute for Translational and Entrepreneurial Medicine. These partnerships may be fruitful in discovering and developing innovative treatments to serve patients for years to come.
Patient Focus: The rise of digital and social channels puts more information and decision-making in the hands of patients than ever before. As a result, we see this paradigm shift from doing “to” and “for” patients to a more engaging environment of doing more “with” patients. This shift will be especially relevant in rare disease communities, where patients are often well educated on their condition when they come in for an appointment with their physician. They’ve probably worked for years to obtain a diagnosis and understand their condition, and it’s highly likely that much of their information has come through digital connections to another patient or patients like themselves.
For CSL, the decade ahead is full of promise. We’re continually investigating new ways to bring lifesaving therapies to patients across the globe. We’re also expanding production as we drive toward future growth. The new decade will bring advancements in medicine and technology as part of a continued evolution of biotechnology. It’s an evolution we are excited to be a part of.
Here’s to 2020.
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