Why next-generation medicines need more evolved healthcare systems to reach patients

Pharmaceutical innovation is entering one of its most exciting chapters. Across the world, advances in science, data and technology are redefining possibilities in healthcare. We’re seeing a shift away from a world of 'one-size-fits-all' treatment to one where medicines can be personalized. Data and digital tools help us predict and detect disease earlier and deliver care in new, more targeted ways.

This shift represents enormous hope for patients, with the potential to change the course of chronic diseases, improve quality of life and even prevent illness altogether. Yet, despite these extraordinary breakthroughs, too many patients still face long waits for new treatments to reach them, if they have access at all.

Innovation alone is not enough. Without robust healthcare system investment, the benefits of scientific advances will remain out of reach for much of the world.

Across Southeast Asia and India, the pace of scientific progress has far outstripped the ability of health systems to absorb it. While we are developing next-generation medicines that can target diseases at their molecular roots, many regulatory frameworks, reimbursement pathways and funding models are still lagging, unable to embrace the wave of medical innovation we’re witnessing. They were built for simpler medicines and more predictable evidence requirements. Now, treatments are becoming increasingly complex, often relying on genetic data, biomarkers or digital health tools. These advances demand new ways of assessing value, as well as new models of collaboration between regulators, payers, healthcare providers and the pharmaceutical industry.

Innovative therapies are emerging at an unprecedented pace and, while we've achieved remarkable progress in the past, our healthcare systems must now evolve to keep up with that pace. Innovating healthcare systems does require significant investment, but these investments are essential. The proof is in the remarkable progress we've already achieved as a result of investment:

Accelerating access to breakthrough therapies requires a rethink of the entire healthcare value chain, with regulatory reform a critical part of the equation. We need faster, more adaptive regulatory systems that can evaluate innovative treatments efficiently, while maintaining safety and quality standards. Many countries are already experimenting with collaborative reviews, reliance pathways and real-world evidence to shorten approval times, but these efforts need stronger regional coordination and investment.

A key recommendation is implementing a 'single dossier' approach for regulatory approvals across multiple countries or regions. This harmonized approach would allow pharmaceutical companies to submit identical application packages to different regulatory authorities simultaneously, dramatically reducing duplication of efforts and administrative burden. By leveraging shared scientific assessments, while respecting local contexts, a single dossier system could cut approval timelines by months or even years, bringing life-changing treatments to patients faster, without compromising safety standards. Regional initiatives that build towards this harmonization would represent a significant step forward for patient access.

Market access, pricing and reimbursement models must also evolve to meet the needs of patients. Many health systems rely on frameworks that measure cost and benefit in narrow terms, yet we know that the true value of innovation often extends far beyond immediate clinical outcomes. Therapies that prevent hospitalization, allow patients to return to work or reduce the burden (both physical and mental) on families, deliver long-term economic and social value that should be recognized and rewarded.

By expanding our value frameworks to incorporate patient-reported outcomes, indirect economic benefits and long-term healthcare utilization impacts, we can make more holistic investment decisions. These comprehensive frameworks enable innovative financing models, like outcome-based contracts and risk-sharing arrangements, that align incentives across the healthcare ecosystem, while ensuring sustainable access to breakthrough medicines.

Perhaps the most important shift we need is cultural, rather than structural. For too long, healthcare systems have been built around institutions, rather than individuals. True progress depends on integrating patients into every stage of the process, because patients can offer insights that no dataset can provide. Their voices and lived experiences help us understand what outcomes matter most, where barriers exist and how care can be made more equitable. Empowering patient voices leads to better policies and, ultimately, more sustainable and meaningful health outcomes.

Digital transformation can be a powerful enabler here. With the right investment, AI and advanced analytics can connect data across the health ecosystem, linking clinical trials, real-world evidence and patient-reported outcomes. In rare diseases, for example, digital innovation can significantly improve time to diagnosis. Comprehensive registry databases, when combined with machine-learning algorithms, enable more accurate diagnosis by helping clinicians identify complex disease patterns. Digital monitoring tools also allow continuous tracking of disease progression, ultimately shortening the diagnostic journey that rare disease patients often face and improving their overall care pathway.

Leading pharmaceutical companies are increasingly leveraging AI-powered drug discovery platforms to accelerate the identification of promising therapeutic targets, while simultaneously developing digital health partnerships that bridge the gap between clinical development and real-world patient care.

Southeast Asia and India are at a pivotal moment – the region is home to some of the world’s fastest-growing economies and most diverse populations – and, at the same time, it faces rising rates of non-communicable diseases, ageing demographics and increasing healthcare demand. It’s important to recognize some of the agility and innovation that’s happening in adopting digital health and fostering collaboration between governments, academia and industry, but we have a long way to go to align policy, regulation, finance, technology and community engagement so that innovative medicine can reach those who need it the most.

We must invest in capacity-building for regulators, expand regional data infrastructure and encourage multi-stakeholder partnerships that turn innovation into impact. We also have to recognize that access and affordability go hand in hand. A truly smart health system delivers value for every patient, regardless of income or geography.

The future of medicine cannot be built by one player alone. Industry, governments, healthcare professionals and patients must work together to shape an ecosystem that encourages innovation, while ensuring that no one is left behind.

Whether through collaborative clinical trials, digital health partnerships or patient capacity-building initiatives, at Sanofi we are committed to helping health systems in Southeast Asia and India prepare for the next generation of care.

We need courage and collaboration. If we can achieve that, the reward is immense: a healthier and more equitable future where every breakthrough in science translates into a breakthrough in someone’s life.

The science is ready. The questions now are: Are our systems ready? And, can we afford not to invest in them?