A few weeks ago in Berlin, during the Frontiers Health 2024 conference, Deep Dive editor at pharmaphorum, Eloise McLennan, met with Anna-Maria Heidinger, Head of DSPACE at Daiichi Sankyo Europe, to discuss how they are transforming healthcare through innovative strategies and partnerships.
DSPACE: A Hub for Digital Innovation
DSPACE is the digital innovation hub of Daiichi Sankyo, designed to support the company’s transition from an innovative pharma company to an innovative health company. As explained by Anna-Maria, DSPACE aims to provide solutions beyond medications, supporting patients and healthcare professionals (HCPs) more broadly.
Falling in Love with the Problem
Anna-Maria highlighted the importance of “falling in love with the problem” rather than the technology, during her panel discussion on “Corporate Innovation Models” at the Innovation Ecosystem Gathering session and in the workshop “How Can We Reimagine Partnerships to Build Successful Digital Health Collaborations?” she co-led with Eduard Kirchner, DSPACE Digital Health Manager, and Florian Koerber, Head of Startups and M&A at Flying Health. In her view, innovation must begin with identifying the problem to be addressed, whether it is a patient issue, an HCP challenge, or a broader drug-related issue. By using this approach, technological solutions are more effectively targeted and potentially impactful.
Building Symbiotic Partnerships
Heidinger highlighted the importance of finding the right partners for innovation. She explained that large pharma companies often act like big tankers, while smaller, more agile startups are like speedboats. Successful partnerships require a symbiotic relationship where both parties can complement each other’s strengths. This collaboration allows for faster and more effective innovation, leveraging the agility of startups and the resources of larger companies.
Spotlighting Success
Discussing the importance of recognizing and celebrating success, Heidinger noted that small victories are crucial for maintaining momentum in innovation. While pilot projects often face challenges scaling, starting small can establish initial successes that motivate further efforts. She stressed the need for a long-term strategy to ensure that successful pilots can be scaled and sustained.
The Role of Pharma in Supporting Innovation
Heidinger acknowledged that pharma companies often struggle with the balance between in-house development and external partnerships. She emphasized that partnering with external technology companies can save time, resources, and money. By acting as a bridge between pharma and innovative tech companies, DSPACE aims to bring new solutions to market more efficiently.
The Future of Healthcare
Looking ahead, Anna-Maria expressed excitement about the potential for technology to transform healthcare. She highlighted the challenges posed by an aging population, increasing chronic diseases, and a shortage of healthcare labor. Leveraging technology to rethink healthcare delivery and roles within the system presents significant opportunities for improvement.
The insights Anna-Maria Heidinger shared at Frontiers Health 2024 emphasize problem-focused innovation, strategic partnerships, and technology’s potential to revolutionize healthcare.
DSPACE at Daiichi Sankyo Europe exemplifies a forward-thinking approach, bridging the gap between pharma and technology to create impactful solutions for patients and healthcare professionals. As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, the strategies discussed by Heidinger offer a roadmap for successful innovation and collaboration.
