Despite women comprising nearly half the global population – and up to 80% of patients in therapeutic areas like immunology – medical treatments have historically overlooked their unique biological needs. The traditional approach of treating women as smaller versions of men, while limiting "women's health" to reproductive functions, fails to account for fundamental biological differences.
These differences are profound and exist at multiple levels:
The implications extend beyond equity – understanding these distinctions is crucial for developing more precise and effective healthcare for everyone. Recent research suggests that pharmaceutical companies can play a pivotal role in closing health gaps between women and men while creating new value opportunities. This could involve:
The pharmaceutical industry is at an inflection point where addressing sex-specific differences could both reduce clinical trial risks and improve health outcomes across populations. As research capabilities advance, there's growing potential to develop more targeted, effective treatments that account for biological sex differences.
For more detailed analysis, see McKinsey & Company’s full report on closing the women’s health gap in biopharma.
