“Innovation is not necessarily a technological breakthrough. It’s anything that prevents, cures, or improves quality of life.” — Benoît Escoffier

Welcome to Pharma Minds, in this series “Who controls innovation?”, we explore one question in two parts: who controls innovation - and who actually makes it happen.

Pharmaceutical innovation exists under constant tension. There is a relentless push-and-pull between access for patients, affordability for public systems, and economic sustainability for companies. So, how do we balance societal expectations with the economic reality of innovation? And what role should pharmaceutical companies play in that balance?

In this episode, we tackle this complex equation with Benoît Escoffier. At the time of this recording, he was the General Manager of Daiichi Sankyo France, and he has since been appointed Head of Oncology Value, Access & Pricing Europe & Canada, making this unfiltered discussion about the future of pharma even more relevant today. With over 20 years of global experience, Benoît advocates for a new pharmaceutical model: one built for, and with, society.

In this episode, we cover:

◾️Redefining Innovation: Moving beyond mere technological breakthroughs to focus on real patient impact, including advancements in oncology (like ADCs).

◾️Price vs. Value: A critical look at why the current economic model is too focused on cost and fails to properly evaluate a drug's true collective benefit.

◾️Corporate Citizenship: How the pharmaceutical industry can align business performance with strong social responsibility (CSR) and civic engagement.

◾️Global Challenges: Navigating the acceleration of the industry amidst AI advancements, geopolitical shifts, and budget instability.

◾️The Human Element: A candid discussion on leadership, individual responsibility, and leaving a positive legacy in healthcare.

If price reflects value, who ultimately defines that value? Governments? Patients? Industry?

👉 Who do you think should define the value of a medicine? Let us know in the comments.

Next time, we move from cutting-edge oncology to mature medicines—where access depends less on price and more on production viability.

Note: Many thanks to Daiichi Sankyo for supporting this episode, allowing us to open the dialogue on innovation and health challenges. The editorial line and guest selection remain entirely independent.

Science creates hope. Reality decides impact. If you want to follow the whole series, don't forget to subscribe!

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This episode has been translated with the help of AI tools.

Originally released on: 13rd October 2025.

To listen to the original French version of this episode: https://smartlink.ausha.co/pharma-minds/43-faut-il-reinventer-le-modele-economique-de-la-pharma-le-regard-lucide-de-benoit-escoffier

Hébergé par Ausha. Visitez ausha.co/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

Europe does not lack talent. It does not lack scientists. What it often lacks is structure.

Welcome to Pharma Minds, Mini-Series « Who controls innovation ? ». In this series, we explore one question in two parts: who controls innovation - and who actually makes it happen.

There is an alarming gap in global healthcare: more than 100 new drugs currently available in the United States are still not accessible to European patients. Why? Because while Europe produces exceptional research, its access pathways are fragmented, and increasingly influenced by global pricing debates such as Most Favored Nation (MFN) policies.

In this episode, we tackle the execution gap with Pierre-Henri Belin, Co-Founder and CEO of Xcube.Bio. His company accelerates biopharma market entry across Europe by mitigating risks and bridging the gap between capital, deep expertise, and industry knowledge. Pierre-Henri shares a bold vision to pool resources, make Europe attractive for research again, and ensure that innovation actually reaches the people who need it.

Because research without access is only half a success.

In this episode, we cover:

◾️ The 100-Drug Gap: The alarming disparity between US and European patient access to new treatments.

◾️ The Root Causes: How fragmented regulatory systems and national-level decision-making are holding Europe back.

◾️ The Consequences: What this delay means for patients and the global competitiveness of Europe’s healthcare ecosystem.

◾️ The Solution: Pierre-Henri’s proposed model built on transparency, early collaboration, and shared responsibility.

◾️ A Path Forward: How Europe can reinvent its system and become a more predictable market without sacrificing safety or trust.

If Europe wants to remain a scientific leader, it must restructure. But this raises a deeper question: is the pharmaceutical economic model still aligned with the expectations of public health systems?

👉 What do you think: Is Europe too fragmented to compete globally, or is its diversity actually its strength? Let us know in the comments.

Next time, we will explore the tension between price, access, and societal choices.

Science creates hope. Reality decides impact. If you want to follow the whole series, don't forget to subscribe!
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This episode has been translated with the help of AI tools.

Originally released on: October 27th 2025.

To listen to the original French version of this episode : https://smartlink.ausha.co/pharma-minds/44-why-europe-is-missing-100-new-drugs-pierre-henri-belin-s-call-for-change

Hébergé par Ausha. Visitez ausha.co/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

Cutting-edge research does not necessarily guarantee patient access.

Welcome to Pharma Minds, Mini-Series “Who controls innovation?". In this mini-series, we explore one question in two parts: who controls innovation and who actually makes it happen.

Artificial intelligence in oncology is booming. Public programs, private partnerships, and massive volumes of data are driving the field forward. Yet, as China closely observes European research, a critical issue remains: the gap between academic excellence and actual industrial deployment.

In this episode, we explore where strategy meets reality with Prof. Nathalie Lassau, radiologist at the Gustave Roussy Institute (IGR), professor at Paris Saclay University, and INSERM researcher.

Prof. Lassau is a master of execution. From labeling 55,000 metastases to integrating her innovations into ultrasound machines worldwide, she has spent her career bridging the gap between research, clinical practice, and private industry.

Driven by relentless pragmatism and resilience, she collaborates with giants like INRIA, Canon Medical, OWKIN, and Guerbet to build revolutionary platforms for cancer prevention and treatment.

But despite these massive efforts, the patient often remains caught in a fragile position between lab breakthroughs and bedside access.

In this episode, we cover:

◾️ The reality of AI in Oncology: How massive data and public-private partnerships are transforming cancer care.

◾️ The execution gap: Why Europe produces world-class research but struggles with equal patient access.

◾️ Building bridges: Prof. Lassau’s insights on forcing collaboration between academia and the private sector.

◾️ The global observation: How China is watching Europe's AI advancements.

◾️ The power of resilience: How overcoming structural obstacles is required to drive true medical innovation.

If Europe excels in AI research, why does access remain unequal? Is it regulation, industrial caution, or the fragmentation of our healthcare systems?

👉 In your country, what is the biggest barrier to accessing AI? Is it funding, regulation, or collaboration between industry and academia? Let us know in the comments.

Next time, we address another structural gap: why are there 100 new drugs already available in the US, but not in Europe?

Science creates hope. Reality decides impact. If you want to follow the whole series, don't forget to subscribe!

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This episode has been translated with the help of AI tools.

Originally released on: April 22th 2024.

To listen to the original French version of this episode : https://smartlink.ausha.co/pharma-minds/pr-nathalie-lassau-puph-radiologue-paris-saclay-innover-c-est-decloisonner-et-rester-pragmatique

Hébergé par Ausha. Visitez ausha.co/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.