This interview is part of an interview series with previous interviews:

• CEO Andreas Gerward was interviewed regarding the partnering process by Kalqyl, available at the following link (Swedish): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCzjXXUJHOQ
• Interview with Jane Buus Laursen - an experienced pharma dealmaker and Board member of Stayble, available at the following link (English): https://staybletherapeutics.com/cision-feed/interview-with-jane-buus-laursen-an-experienced-pharma-dealmaker-and-board-member-of-stayble/

Introduction:

Rachelle is a US Payer expert with nearly 30 years of experience. She has a broad background in the payer segment, having held various roles in large Pharmacy Benefit Management (PBM) organizations, including account management, clinical, rebate negotiation, specialty pharmacy, and more.

In addition, Rachelle spent a decade in the biotechnology/ Pharma sector, working with one of the largest biotechnology manufacturers where she led teams in pricing, contracting, trade, channel strategy, and competitive analysis. Currently, she acts as an expert in the US market, offering guidance on manufacturer-payer relations, product launches, pricing, contracting, market targeting, and navigating barriers or advantages in comparison to the current standard of care and emerging market competition.

What do you consider the Challenges and Opportunities in Today's Pharmacy Landscape

The current state of pharmacy and healthcare presents significant challenges, especially for patients who are often caught in the middle of a complex system. They struggle to access the medications they need, facing barriers that result from systemic inefficiencies and conflicting priorities among stakeholders. While it's easy to assign blame, the more important question is: how do we fix this system to ensure patients receive timely and effective care?

Two key trends which have contributed to the current state of pharmacy:

1. The Rise of High-Cost, Low-Value Medications: Over the years, medications have been introduced with minimal improvement in efficacy or patient outcomes but at significantly higher prices compared to existing treatments or generics. This has forced payers to implement measures like drug exclusion lists to curb the use of these "me-too" products.
    
2. Innovations Targeting Rare Diseases: Pharmaceutical companies have focused on developing treatments for rare diseases, addressing critical unmet needs. However, the high costs of these innovations-necessary to recoup billions of dollars in research and development-have led to complex utilization management practices by payers. These practices often drive patients toward lower-cost, suboptimal standard-of-care options, creating financial strain and potential gaps in care.

STA363 can offer a Potential Turning Point: Innovation through disease modification in a Common Condition, pain caused by Lumbar Disc Herniation

While many recent innovations have targeted small patient populations, new therapies in development hold promise for addressing widespread conditions with significant economic and clinical impacts. One important example is STA363, a novel agent in early clinical trials for lumbar disc herniation (LDH), a common cause of back pain.

If approved, STA363 could revolutionize the treatment paradigm by offering a disease-modifying effect that relieves pain, reduces potential for opioid addiction and prevents surgery. Unlike the current standard of care-which is expensive, costs being noted as up to $150,000, and involves multiple physician visits, pain management medications, physical therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic care, and often surgery-this single-injection treatment could provide:

• Immediate Cost Savings: By reducing the need for repeated interventions and surgeries, payers could see significant financial benefits.
• Enhanced Patient Outcomes: Patients would avoid the prolonged and often ineffective treatment cycles associated with current approaches.

Aligning Stakeholders for Better Care

Therapies like STA363 represent an opportunity for payers and pharmaceutical companies to align on shared goals: reducing healthcare costs while improving patient outcomes. By prioritizing access to innovative treatments that address both clinical and economic challenges, stakeholders can transform the system to better serve patients.

A Call to Collaborate

The introduction of innovative therapies like STA363 provides a rare opportunity for alignment across stakeholders. By working together, payers, providers, and pharmaceutical companies can design solutions that prioritize patient care while managing costs effectively. Perhaps the introduction of products such as STA363 will be a pivotal moment in which payers and the manufacturer can align on getting the patients the care they need and get them out of pain without opioids and back to their normal life at home and work, all while saving resources within our strained healthcare system. 

Let's focus on fostering partnerships such as this one and innovative strategies to ensure that the healthcare system serves its ultimate purpose: improving patient outcomes and access to necessary care.

For more information

Andreas Gerward, CEO of Stayble Therapeutics AB

Mail: andreas.gerward@stayble.se

Phone: +46 730 808 397

About Stayble Therapeutics AB

Stayble is a clinical pharmaceutical company developing the injection treatment STA363 for lumbar disc herniation (LDH). Stayble's vision is to offer patients a simple and effective treatment that targets the underlying cause of the patient's chronic pain and provides lasting pain relief and increased physical function. The treatment is aimed at patients who are not helped by physical therapy and painkillers and is a single injection that is expected to last a lifetime and requires minimal rehabilitation. After convincing data from previous pre-clinical and clinical studies (phase 1b and 2b) in degenerative disc disease, which show a volume reduction of the discs, the Company has successfully completed a phase 1b study for the treatment of herniated discs.

The company's Certified Adviser is Svensk Kapitalmarknadsgranskning AB.