Novartis and Sanitas highlight medical innovation and clinical trial expansion

Healthcare leaders are emphasizing the critical role of clinical research and specialized manufacturing in improving patient access to innovative treatments.

Amaya Echevarría, president of Novartis Spain, highlighted the strategic importance of the company’s radioligand plant in La Almunia de Doña Godina. As one of only five such facilities globally, the plant produces nuclear anti-cancer therapies, with over 85% of its production destined for international markets, including Asia. Echevarría noted that geographic location should not dictate access to treatment and called for legislative reforms to address inequities in the Spanish healthcare system.

Simultaneously, the Sanitas Foundation for Medical Research and Innovation reported a 33% year-on-year increase in clinical trials. Executives and medical specialists from Sanitas, including Sonia Gutiérrez and Dr. Víctor Gómez Mayordomo, stated that expanding research is a clinical necessity to keep pace with rapid scientific advancements. Current research focuses on neurosciences, including gene therapy trials for epileptic encephalopathies and precision molecules for migraines, which aim to provide patients with access to innovative drugs five to seven years earlier than traditional market timelines.