Reducing Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities

by Michael Caso

Biopharmaceutical companies pride themselves on conducting comprehensive research activities.  These could be clinical programs to determine the viability of a new chemical entity to satisfy an unmet medical need, market access programs, or more recently, patient-centric needs of targeted populations.    Why then have these same companies virtually ignored the medical, social and cultural needs of the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population? 
Ethnic and racial minorities currently comprise over 30 percent of the U.S. population and will grow to 50 percent by 2050.  In fact, in many geographical areas, minority populations represent an “emergent majority” — a collective majority of minorities.  Additionally, this population can have unique responses to medications and are differentially impacted by a number of common disease states for which they are diagnosed later and have poorer control or survival rates than majority populations. 
It would appear that there exists a nexus of needs and opportunities that should appeal to the biopharmaceutical industry, where a focus on a medical need can result in a healthier population and a healthier bottom line.
This is the first of a three-part posting that will provide supportive data that identifies the need, demonstrates targeting opportunities, and provides specific strategies and tactics designed to positively impact complementary health disparity reduction and business goals.

---