Europe and other large parts of the world have reached this point and the average life expectancy is now according to UN +80 years in most parts of EU. This pushes society in many directions with increased health costs, higher cost for elderly and retired but also a demand in having meaningful and enjoyable years ahead. It’s not the number that counts but rather the joyful moments!

Being healthy helps your health, but does not mean you’re not ill. When I recently asked a colleague in a CRO how the inclusion criteria “Healthy male volunteers” in a phase I clinical study was perceived by the volunteers that participated in the study I got the response that most people perceive themselves as being healthy even if they are treated for a chronic disease. This because the treatment make them able to participate in life as being fully healthy. So, how do we measure health? Maybe by being able to enjoy life without restrictions due to health.

The Life science industry is an important actor together with academia and health providers in the development of new therapies that can bring more people to a healthy and more fruitful life. Sweden in particular has a history of many breakthroughs in medicinal research and development. That is a heritage worth being proud of! So when the government initiated the collaboration program (in Swedish: samverkansprogrammet) for Life science 2015 and appointed Anders Lönnberg as chair the hopes were big. It shows that our industry is aware of its challenges and understand that it need better collaboration between different disciplines for reaching government’s goal; that Sweden shall become one of the world leading countries within Life science.

So far there have been an open and constructive dialogue but few or none concrete suggestions has been published. Later this year Sweden goes to the polls and I expect that the results of the collaboration program will be presented before the election. I together with many of my colleagues look forward to the results of this work.

So if the government want its fellow citizens to be healthier, one action is to work together with the industry to enable safe and efficacious medicines becomes available. This can, and must be supported by several different actions, both to the life science industry but also to the academia and health providers.

Wealth is measured by health!

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More about the author Michael Brobjer

Let us introduce you to Michael Brobjer and his crew´s journey with Karessa Pharma. It is a small start up company that develops new pharmaceuticals based on a patented drug delivery technology and proven pharmaceutical substances in order to offer men with erectile dysfunction a fast and more reliable effect. Karessa is listed on Stockholm Nasdaq First North.