Takeda’s Peter Schnack on digital’s role in driving innovation and improving patient outcomes

Ever since it was coined in 2006 by British mathematician Clive Humby, the idea that ‘data is the new oil’ has rarely been far from the digital agenda, but now data is poised for its most propulsive role yet in European healthcare.

This arrives in the shape of the European Health Data Space. Launched in May by the European Commission, it’s the first in a series of EU data spaces and will act as a health-specific ecosystem that gives people cross-border access to their personal health data.

“It will have a big positive impact for patients, first of all, and also therefore for pharma’s ability to serve them,” says Peter Schnack, who recently took up the role of head of data, digital and technology for Takeda’s global portfolio division.