Our website uses cookies and other similar tools. We also analyze anonymized web traffic. You can choose your cookie preferences below. You may choose only necessary cookies, specific cookies or all cookies. Read more in our privacy policy
Home > All articles > Medaffcon has in-depth Understanding of the Needs of the Pharmaceutical Industry –
Medaffcon has in-depth Understanding of the Needs of the Pharmaceutical Industry –
The Client Receives Turnkey Solution from Real-World Evidence (RWE) Generation to a Value Dissemination Plan
When a pharmaceutical company is looking for a partner for RWE (real-world evidence) generation and associated market access projects, it’s eager to find a scientifically competent partner who understands the dynamic landscape and market.
“High scientific level and solid evidence generation methods, combined with a strategic project management, are the basic prerequisites for all of our projects,” says Medaffcon’s Lead RWE Epidemiologist, PhD Johanna Simin.
Selecting the right interactions is a key factor for success. Therefore, the client should also consider how well the partner understands the pharmaceutical industry’s needs. When the partner has extensive hands-on experience from the industry, these irreplaceable insights enable the partner to guide the project at different strategic levels, ensuring that the client’s various needs can be identified and met.
“Medaffcon, with 15 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, fulfills these needs with a proven track record of over 10 years in Real-World Evidence (RWE) studies. Our multidisciplinary team has extremely strong expertise directly from the pharmaceutical industry. We are accustomed to working at local and global levels of pharmaceutical companies. Combined with the high scientific and academic expertise, this truly benefits the client”, Medaffcon’s Lead RWE Epidemiologist, PhD Johanna Simin says.
Medaffcon employs over 8 experts in RWE (real-world evidence) and has a Data Team of 8 experts. Additionally, it also has 7 experts in the Market Access Team.
“We can execute projects flexibly, swiftly, and with high quality. Our Net Promoter Score (NPS) is 75,” says Medaffcon’s Lead RWE Epidemiologist, PhD Johanna Simin.
Multidisciplinary Nordic Expertise: RWE, Market Access, and Data Analysis
Another characteristic of a strong RWE (real-world evidence) partner is having a multidisciplinary team, including experts from various fields. It ensures that the pharmaceutical company can get all the answers to its needs on a turnkey basis. Medaffcon has been carrying out RWE (real-world evidence) studies for over 10 years.
“We can offer the client a complete solution, from securing the permits to a ready project. In addition to RWE generation, we are accustomed to HTA (health technology assessment) processes and regulatory requirements, reimbursement and pricing processes in the Nordics as a whole”, Medaffcon’s Lead RWE Epidemiologist, PhD Johanna Simin says.
Medaffcon Helps with Value Dissemination Plan
Value dissemination plan for the project can be made as soon as the RWE generation process is being planned.
A value dissemination plan can be prepared as an outcome of the RWE generation process, ensuring that the results are being communicated and utilized as effectively as possible to various key stakeholders using multiple approaches. This naturally enhances the project’s cost-benefit ratio, as the client gets the maximal value from it.
With the experienced partner like Medaffcon client can expect smooth and timely collaboration. Medaffcon has implemented over 370 projects in 2022-2023. The customer experience is excellent and NPS (Net Promoter Score) reflecting customer satisfaction is 75.
Medaffcon Knows the Nordic Data
The Nordic nationwide, population-based, and disease-specific health data registries are globally unique. The quality of the data compensates for the population number in the Nordic countries.
“Local experience is the key. Data sources must be identified and recognized, knowing which data is suitable to produce meaningful information. Not all data fits all purposes”, Medaffcon’s, Lead RWE Epidemiologist, PhD Johanna Simin states.
The requirements of the pharmaceutical industry for suppliers are strict; for example, data retention is tightly regulated.
“All data at Medaffcon is stored and handled in a highly secure remote environment with strict access. We are very familiar with the regulations regarding data sharing, and we have solutions for utilizing data from Norway and Denmark”,Medaffcon’s Lead RWE Epidemiologist, PhD Johanna Simin says.
Medaffcon’s Strengths as a Pharmaceutical Industry Partner in Nordic:
High scientific and academic expertise and highly educated experts
Key personnel have firsthand experience working in the pharmaceutical industry
Experience from projects at both local and global levels of pharmaceutical organizations
Multidisciplinary team: RWE and market access specialists, data and analytics expertise, medical specialists
Offers the client a turnkey solution from securing the permits and research planning to a value dissemination plan
In-depth understanding of the Nordic data infrastructure and ecosystem, with expertise and knowledge of Nordic data and applicable regulations
Customer Experience is excellent at Medaffcon, NPS=75
Strong and agile teamwork among teams
Sweden-based peer-reviewed works from Johanna Simin
[PMID: 38267263] Moreels N, Boven A, Gressani O, Andersson F-L, Vlieghe E, Callens S, Engstrand L, Simin J, Brusselaers, N. The combined effect of systemic antibiotics and proton pump inhibitors on Clostridioides difficile infection and recurrence. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 2024. DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkae012
[PMID: 37473840] Boven A, Vlieghe E, Engstrand L, Andersson F L, Callens S, Simin J*, Brusselaers N. Clostridioides difficile infection-associated cause-specific and all-cause mortality: a population-based cohort study. Clinical Microbiology and Infection; 2023. * Shared last authorship: these authors contributed equally to this work. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmi.2023.07.008
[PMID: 37087706]. Njotto L, Simin J, Fornes R, Engstrand L, Brusselaers N. Maternal and early-life exposure to antibiotics and the risk of autism and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in childhood: a Swedish population- based cohort study. Drug Safety; 2023. DOI: 10.1007/s40264-023-01297-1
[PMID: 36629968]. Sharon Ngwenya, Johanna Simin, Nele Brusselaers. Maintenance proton pump inhibitor use associated with increased all-cause and cause-specific mortality in Sweden. Digestive Diseases and Sciences; 2023. DOI: 10.1007/s10620-023-07820-9
[PMID: 36539798]. Breddels EM, Simin J, Fornes R, Engstrand HL, Engstrand L, Bruyndonckx, Brusselaers N. Population-based cohort study: proton pump inhibitor use during pregnancy in Sweden and the risk of maternal and neonatal adverse events. BMC Medicine; 2022. DOI: 10.1186/s12916-022-02673-x
[PMID: 35130922]. Fornes R, Simin J, Nguyen MH, Cruz G, Crisosto N, van der Schaaf M, Engstrand L, Brusselaers N. Pregnancy, perinatal and childhood outcomes in women with and without polycystic ovary syndrome and metformin during pregnancy: a nationwide population-based study. Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology; 2022. DOI: 10.1186/s12958-022-00905-6
Nele Brusselaers, Johanna Simin. Proton pump inhibitors and an increased risk of gastric cancer: how much more evidence is needed? Digestive Medicine Research; 2022. DOI: 10.21037/dmr-22-57
[PMID: 33861686]. Simin J, Liu Q, Wang X, Fall K, Williams C, Callens S, Engstrand L, Brusselaers N. Prediagnostic use of estrogen-only therapy is associated with improved colorectal cancer survival in menopausal women: a Swedish population-based cohort study. Acta Oncologica; 2021.DOI: 10.1080/0284186X.2021.1909747
[PMID: 34291520]. Kamal H, Fornes R, Simin J, Stål P, Duberg A-S, Brusselaers N, Aleman S. Risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in hepatitis B and D virus co-infected patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies. Journal of Viral Hepatitis; 2021.DOI: 10.1111/jvh.13577
[PMID: 33857339]. Liu Q, Simin J, Debelius J, Fall K, Sadr-Azodi O, Engstrand L, Williams C, Brusselaers N. Menopausal hormone therapies and risk of colorectal cancer: a Swedish matched-cohort study. Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics; 2021. DOI: 10.1111/apt.16362
[PMID: 32968205]. Simin J, Fornes R, Liu Q, Olsen R, Callens S, Engstrand L, Brusselaers N. Antibiotic use and the risk of colorectal cancer: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis. The British Journal of Cancer; 2020. DOI: 10.1038/s41416-020-01082-2
[PMID: 32679181]. SiminJ, Tamimi RM, Engstrand L, Callens S, Brusselaers N. Antibiotic use and the risk of breast cancer: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis. Pharmacological Research; 2020. DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2020.105072
[PMID: 31836528]. Simin J, Liu Q, Fornes R, Brusselaers N. Safety of proton pump inhibitors questioned based on a large randomized trial of patients receiving rivaroxaban or aspirin. Gastroenterology; 2019. Top publication at MTC at Karolinska Institutet in 2019. DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2019.07.067
[PMID: 31584190]. Simin J, Tamimi RM, Callens S, Engstrand L, Brusselaers N. Menopausal hormone therapy treatment options and ovarian cancer risk: A Swedish prospective population-based matched-cohort study. International Journal of Cancer; 2019. DOI: 10.1002/ijc.32706
[PMID: 28783542]. Simin J, Tamimi R, Lagergren J, Adami HO, Brusselaers N. Menopausal hormone therapy and cancer risk: An overestimated risk? European Journal of Cancer; 2017. DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2017.07.012
Petri joined Medaffcon in 2022 as a consultant. Petri holds extensive experience in the pharmaceutical industry especially in Market Access, sales and marketing. Before joining Medaffcon Petri worked in various managerial roles in the pharmaceutical industry which has provided him with a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the field. Petri conducted his BBA studies in the Netherlands and Finland providing him with a great basis to work in international organizations.
Petri’s extensive experience in the pharmaceutical industry and his background in business equip him with a unique perspective in the field of Life Science and commercialization of medicines in Finland. His main focus is on helping companies bring Life Science innovations and services to the Finnish market. Petri’s expertise in Market Access, sales and marketing as well as his deep understanding of the pharmaceutical industry provide Medaffcon’s team with valuable information as they provide customer solutions.
“Resource challenges alongside technological development and digitalization provide considerable opportunities to enhance healthcare in Finland. As data collection and digitalization develop, the effectiveness of health technologies can be demonstrated more precisely. While advanced health technologies and medicine offer more effective treatments, bringing them to the market require special know-how and understanding. Thus, companies, the research sector and governmental agencies should continue to further co-operation in effectively bringing health technologies and medicines to the market while simultaneously managing resource allocation in a rational manner.”
Dr Johanna Simin joined Medaffcon in May 2023. She is a trained epidemiologist based in Sweden. She obtained her master’s and doctoral degrees from Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, where she continued her work as a post-doctoral researcher focusing mainly on the long-term effects of prescription drugs. Her international projects have been based on high-quality Swedish health data registries, many of the cohorts being globally among the largest. She has broad experience in international collaborations between leading universities and pharmaceutical companies and has supervised postgraduate students nationally and internationally.
“What drives me is the purpose of my work – I believe in enhancing health with big data. Here, the Nordics offer incomparable real-world possibilities”.
Mariann joined Medaffcon’s team in 2016 after finishing her PhD. The transition to real world evidence (RWE) research was a natural continuum to her previous research career. Through RWE studies, she has had the privilege to gain a broad insight into working with different stakeholders within the healthcare field. The vast proportion of her days goes towards interacting with clients, planning and performing RWE studies, and supporting Medaffcon’s RWE team. Subjects that keep her work interesting are the vast variability of customers and projects, problem-solving, and interacting with people.
“The number of RWE studies has increased since stakeholders within the healthcare industry have an increasing demand for knowledge-based decision making tools that need to be fulfilled. The future, therefore, has an ever-increasing emphasis on RWE”.
Iiro joined Medaffcon in March 2017 as a Biostatistician. For the preceding four years, he has worked as a research assistant in an academic study group, analyzing clinical and genetic patient data. Iiro holds a Master of Science degree in Technology in Bioinformation Technology.
Iiro’s strengths include his strong expertise in statistics and data-analysis, hands-on experience in working with sensitive patient data, and strong interdisciplinary communication skills with experts from various fields. In the field, he is particularly interested in the large data amounts made available with the revolution of technology and how the information received such data can potentially be utilized to draw concrete conclusions, both in order to understand the nature of diseases and to advance the goals of the pharmaceutical industry and patient treatment.
“Machine learning and AI-based solutions will have a major impact on the healthcare sector now and in the future. However, effectively utilizing the already collected and available health-data will have a higher importance in order to improve health-care”.
