The pharmaceutical industry meets basic research at the Instrumentarium Science Foundation

The pharmaceutical industry is by far the largest funder of medical research in the world. However, the focus of its funding is not basic research, but research projects with a more clearly visible path to productization. An example of this is a project in which the biological target and the mechanism of a drug are already known.

"The Instrumentarium Science Foundation is needed specifically to fund researchers and companies at the beginning of their medical research careers. Only very seldom do the findings of basic research eventually lead to finished products and treatments. Without high-quality, diverse, basic research, smart researchers, and creative approaches, many important insights in medicine would never see the light of day", says Iles, who has a long career in both drug development research and business. 

As CEO of the international pharmaceutical company, AbbVie, and Chairman of the Pharmaceutical Industry Association, Iles has a real vantage point in terms of both the Finnish and global pharmaceutical industry, business, and research. His election to the board of the Instrumentarium Science Foundation in the spring of 2022 means this vantage point is now even wider.

"It all starts with basic research"

Iles’ father is Maltese and his mother Finnish. He has already seen the medical industry from many perspectives. He originally studied organic chemistry and graduated from the University of Helsinki. He began his career in pharmaceuticals at the Leiras / Schering pharmaceutical factory in Turku, but his list of employers now boasts companies such as Juvantia Pharma, Rosche, Pfizer and Takeda. In addition to Finland, Iles also has experience of the medical and pharmaceutical industry in the USA, Sweden and the Baltics.

"Positions of trust in foundations and organizations enable you to follow the industry and its development in a truly diverse way. In addition to running a business, you need to keep up to date with everything from COVID to monkey pox, and all things related to them. The shortage of personnel and resources is a challenge for the entire industry, and it is particularly visible in public-sector hospitals. When we can develop better medicines and more effective treatments, we will hopefully also be able to do our part to ease the workload of our personnel", Iles emphasizes.

"It all starts with basic medical research; that is the starting point of cutting-edge research. The fruits of today's high-quality, basic research will be visible in about 10–30 years' time as real products on pharmacy shelves and as new forms of treatment in hospitals", Iles points out.

Dead ends help us move forward

In Iles' opinion, Finland needs different independent scientific foundations that are not commercially committed to any single company.

“We need thousands of ideas to eventually get concrete products and services. In addition to striving for success, we must allow researchers to examine different dead-ends. Only then will we find a way forward and more effective treatments. I for one am looking forward with great interest to the applications that the Foundation will receive from researchers in this latest round. It’s exciting to be involved in this application process and to be making decisions with other experts”, says Iles.

Digitalization is showing in innovation

Digitalization is seen as a solution in many fields, including medicine and the pharmaceutical industry. According to Iles, Finns have already proven their excellence in this field.

“Finnish health care’s digital portals such as Noona and Kaiku have been sold worldwide. By combining pharmaceutical research, innovation and digitalization, we can overcome the many health care challenges in Finland and all over the world”, believes Iles.

Text: Kai Tarkka / Viestintäpalvelu Taika Oy
Image: Matthew Iles