HUS, University of Helsinki and Janssen to start a unique collaboration

HUS Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, pharmaceutical company Janssen Finland and Janssen EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa region) are starting international collaboration. The agreement enables multi-year projects in different areas of disease treatment. At the beginning of the cooperation, the focus will be on improving the conditions for clinical trials and the treatment of depression, and other jointly agreed topics.

“We are supporting the change towards value- and outcome-based health care, where the actual health benefits of treatment for patients and healthcare service providers is measured. In practice, this means, for example, building relevant outcome-based impact trackers, and shifting the focus from measuring performance to created value”, says Nina Ekholm-Wenberg, Country Director at Janssen Finland.

The themes of the collaboration projects are selected according to their societal significance.

“We focus especially on health challenges that involve significant societal losses, such as long-term sick leave and even premature retirement. The situation is challenging both at the individual and societal levels”, Ekholm-Wenberg adds.

Themes of the collaboration projects are selected according to their societal significance.

The collaborating parties will also work together to conduct clinical trials and to enhance the better use of real-life data (RWE studies), in decision-making. In addition to this, the goal is to develop a job rotation model, or talent exchange program between partners.

“It is great that HUS’s research and development cooperation is expanding with this agreement. In addition to the fact that patients benefit from research-based healthcare development, this kind of international cooperation is also significant in attracting research and development-oriented healthcare professionals to work at HUS, as well as giving aid in retaining the experts already working for us”, says Taneli Raivio, Research Director at HUS Helsinki University Hospital.

The sharing and development of expertise between the contracting parties is also important for the University of Helsinki.

“One important part of the collaboration is the development of healthcare competence and educational cooperation between the contracting parties. This gives us new perspectives while developing the future of healthcare,” says Anne Remes, Dean of the University of Helsinki and Professor of Neurology.