Innovation in medicines does not stop with approval.

16/4/26, 10:00

Innovative therapies reach patients faster

Developing innovative medicines is one thing — getting them to patients is another story. Between scientific breakthrough and commercial launch lie regulation, complex negotiations, and budgetary trade-offs. Axes Health focuses on bringing innovation to patients faster and more fairly.

Axes Health was founded by Katrien Van Geyt, a pharmacist by training with years of experience in the pharmaceutical sector. In her career she worked on *market access*, the process by which new medicines gain access to the market and to reimbursement. "That term has been narrowed down to price and reimbursement. That's why we initially focused on *patient access*: making sure that patients get access to new and often complex therapies," she says.

A bridge between innovation and the healthcare system

Many new medicines emerge at specific biotech companies and in research settings. There, the focus lies on science and development. Once a medicine is approved at European level, a new and often complex phase begins. "Researchers think: we've done it, now it has to reach the patient. But it's not that simple," says Van Geyt. "Each country has to decide if and how the medicine is reimbursed. That means extensive dossiers, economic analyses, and often consultations with the government."

Axes Health supports companies in that process. The team helps draw up clinical and economic dossiers that demonstrate the value of a medicine, and in particular shows how the medicine answers a medical need. "We don't just look at price but at the broader impact. Does a new therapy improve the quality of life of patients, or reduce hospital admissions? That also has a societal and economic value."

Focus on biotech companies

Because classic pharma companies often have their own teams for this kind of work, Axes Health focuses on niche players. "Many biotech companies have developed beautiful innovations, but lack the expertise on site in Belgium to navigate the access pathway," says Van Geyt. "That's where we come in." With their knowledge of the Belgian healthcare system and contacts with the various stakeholders — such as the government, clinical experts and patient organisations — Axes Health brings the parties closer together.

Early & fast equitable access

An important topic in that debate is *early & fast equitable access*. This means that patients gain earlier access to innovative medicines, particularly where there is an unmet medical need. The topic received extra attention through new Belgian regulations. These create opportunities for earlier access to promising therapies on the one hand, and faster reimbursement on the other, so that patients don't have to wait for lengthy evaluations of the medicine.

"The reimbursement process often takes nine to twelve months. For some patients that's too long. Thanks to *early access* programmes, companies can start earlier with an innovative treatment in case of a clear medical need." It often concerns therapies for rare diseases for which no treatment yet exists.

"I hope that *early access* will become the standard procedure within a few years," concludes Van Geyt. "That patients, once a diagnosis has been made and a therapy exists, get access to it as quickly as possible. That's the mission in which Axes Health has succeeded."

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Early access* programmes make it possible to start an innovative treatment earlier in case of a clear medical need."

Katrien Van Geyt, Founder and managing partner at Axes Health