Table 1 Benefits of company–patient group partnerships
From: Giving patients a say: how to work with patient advocacy groups
Benefit | To company | To patient group |
|---|---|---|
Financial | Increased access to funding, which can often stimulate other sources of financing | Money directly employed in finding treatments; broad exposure and successful efforts often lead to additional funding in area |
Public and political profile | Advocacy power useful for interactions with FDA and other regulators | Group recognized as contributor to search for new treatments |
Advice and expertise | Increased access to patients, investigators and thought leaders | Receive information and nonfinancial support from companies |
Research | Increased scientific knowledge in areas of commercial interest | Increased scientific knowledge of disease |
Products | Opportunities to expand indications and markets for products that were previously unanticipated | Increased likelihood of products in disease areas of interest |
Motivation | Human element inspires scientists to overcome challenges of drug R&D | Empowers patients to feel they are directly contributing to search for a treatment. |
