The Pfizer Healthcare Hub at #dhc24: Three highlights
Every year, the Digital Health Conference in Berlin brings together leading experts, start-ups, investors and political decision-makers to discuss trends and developments in the field of digital healthcare and to shed light on the opportunities and challenges facing our healthcare system. The Pfizer Healthcare Hub was there: A look at three highlights of #dhc24.
Dr. Karl Lauterbach: Germany strives for a leading role in digital medicine
One highlight of the conference was the inspiring keynote speech by Federal Minister of Health Prof. Dr. Karl Lauterbach. He emphasized the importance of the digital transformation in the healthcare sector using the example of specific projects such as the electronic patient file. At the same time, he focused on the transformative potential of artificial intelligence for the healthcare of tomorrow. Lauterbach emphasized that Germany is striving to play a leading role in digital medicine and that corresponding laws should accelerate this development. He also announced that more research into AI in the healthcare sector would be promoted in order to drive forward innovative solutions.
Dr. Christian Lenz: Getting to patients faster with AI
Dr. Christian Lenz, Medical Director of Pfizer Germany, directly followed on from this with his presentation of Pfizer's latest developments and contributions to improving patient care and promoting innovative therapy options through the targeted use of AI. Dr. Lenz outlined how Pfizer is using AI to increase the efficiency of clinical trials and develop personalized therapies. He also explained how digital healthcare concepts can improve patient care and facilitate and accelerate access to innovative treatment options.
The Healthcare Hub as Pfizer's central point of contact for digital health projects
DHC24 is an important networking platform that many start-ups used to get in touch with Pfizer and find out exactly what the Pfizer Healthcare Hub offers and what a partnership with Pfizer could look like in concrete terms. The Pfizer Healthcare Hub Berlin was represented at this year's DHC by Thorsten Mintel, Maria Scham, Paulina Achter and Florian Reis. The Hub team was able to get to know interesting start-ups from various sectors and gain numerous insights into promising digital health projects.
Optima: Fighting cancer with real-world data and artificial intelligence
Treating patients with breast, lung or prostate cancer in the best possible way thanks to artificial intelligence - that is the goal of the OPTIMA research consortium.
But what exactly is OPTIMA?
The public-private partnership IMI OPTIMA aims to optimize the treatment of patients with solid tumors in Europe using real-world data and artificial intelligence. A consortium of 38 partners from 14 European countries, including clinics, research institutions, patient organizations, medical societies, and pharmaceutical companies, shares the vision of providing every cancer patient access to the latest treatments and innovative therapies. The goal is to develop a unique and interoperable data platform in Europe. Various data, especially from everyday clinical practice (real-world data), will be integrated and analyzed using deep learning and artificial intelligence. This will generate new knowledge to further personalize the treatment paths of patients with prostate, breast, and lung cancer and supplement treatment guidelines. Simultaneously, OPTIMA is developing a Clinical Decision Support Tool to assist physicians in making optimal cancer therapy decisions.
The project began in October 2021 and is funded for five years under the umbrella of the European Union's Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) and the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA). Three years into the project, significant milestones have already been achieved to develop a privacy-compliant and secure platform for real-world data in oncology. Currently, the OPTIMA platform is being tested as an advanced prototype and is expected to be fully developed by 2026.
By the end of the funding period in late 2026, a significant advancement is expected in updated guidelines, personalized medicine, and the use of big data and artificial intelligence in the European healthcare system.
For more information about OPTIMA, please click here:
OPTIMA Website: OPTIMA - Tackling Cancer through Real World Data (optima-oncology.eu)
FAQ with Dr. Hagen Krüger: OPTIMA: Mit Künstlicher Intelligenz zur passenden Krebsbehandlung | Pfizer Deutschland
Podcast: Mit künstlicher Intelligenz Krebs besser behandeln • Charles² – Pharma Insights (spotify.com)
Innovation and inspiration at the premiere of the Käpsele Innovation Festival 2024
For the first time, innovators, experts and the curious from the German startup and digital world gathered at the Käpsele Innovation Festival at the ZMF festival grounds in Freiburg. Pfizer not only sponsored the event, but also celebrated the 6th anniversary of its Healthcare Hub Freiburg, which added a special glow to the atmosphere.
At 4 p.m., the Kickoff Pitch Panel began, where entrepreneurs such as Wolfgang Grupp discussed the transformation of the economy, changing market conditions and future opportunities.
The highlight of the festival was undoubtedly the high-profile speakers who shaped the future of the healthcare industry with their presentations and discussions. One of the highlights was the presentation by our Medical Lead at Pfizer Germany, Christian Lenz, who provided insights into the role of AI in drug development and what is possible in the future.
Another notable highlight was the presentation by digital health and innovation expert Inga Bergen, Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Frederik Wenz, Clinic Director of the University Medical Center Freiburg, and Prof. Dr. Christian Gratzke, Urologist at the University Medical Center Freiburg. The speakers provided exciting insights into the future of healthcare and how groundbreaking medical technologies are already being successfully implemented today.
The Käpsele Innovation Festival served not only as a knowledge platform, but also as a meeting place for networking and sharing forward-thinking ideas. Participants had the opportunity to learn about the latest trends and innovations in digital healthcare and to form new partnerships, for example at the evening networking party over a cool drink.
Overall, the festival was a great success for us and the attendees, demonstrating how collaboration between companies like Pfizer and leaders in science and medicine is shaping the future of the healthcare industry. Visitors left the festival inspired and full of new ideas for their own projects.
Read some of the exciting media coverage here (German only):
- Baden TV: Das Käpsele Innovation Festival in Freiburg möchte Zukunftsideen erlebbar machen (baden-tv-sued.com)
- Badische Zeitung: Das erste Käpsele Innovation Festival in Freiburg war ein Erfolg – es war vielleicht nicht das letzte - Freiburg - Badische Zeitung
- Bildergalerie: Fotos: 600 Gäste feiern Innovation statt Musik auf dem ZMF-Gelände - Wirtschaft - Fotogalerien - Badische Zeitung
Health Innovations in Focus: A Recap of the health.tech Conference 2024
The health.tech Conference 2024, organized by Bits & Pretzels, took place for the third time in Munich and has established itself as one of the leading European events for digital solutions in the healthcare sector. With over 3,000 participants from more than 60 countries, founders of startups, investors, healthcare providers, and executives from companies gathered to drive innovative ideas, forge partnerships, and promote entrepreneurial thinking.
The main theme of the conference was digital healthcare with a focus on expanding digital infrastructure, patient-centered care, and the digital advancement of our healthcare systems. There were numerous interesting sessions on the latest developments, strategies, and challenges related to Artificial Intelligence in healthcare, providing exciting insights into concrete practical applications.
In panel discussions or presentations, including those featuring the "Go to the Market Champions," attendees had the chance to gain insights from accomplished founders such as Selfapy, Oviva, Vivira Health Lab, XO Life, and Recare Deutschland on their strategies for bringing healthcare innovations to market. Success strategies as well as the hurdles they had to overcome were lively discussed.
Another highlight was this year's country partnership with Denmark. This provided attendees with the opportunity, in a session with Julian Springer (Senior Digital Health Advisor, Trifolk), Marlis Erichsen (Science- and Innovation Attaché, Innovation Center Denmark – Munich), and moderator Inga Bergen (Founder, VdG Media & InBergen UG), to get to know the innovative Danish healthcare system and engage with leading Danish founders in the field of health technologies.
Once again this year, the Pfizer Healthcare Hub had a booth and was delighted with numerous interested visitors. In addition to many exciting conversations with startup founders, innovative healthcare concepts were also discussed, laying the groundwork for future collaborations. A complete success!