In the rapidly evolving landscape of healthcare, patient-driven data and engagement have emerged as crucial catalysts for developing targeted therapies that address unmet medical needs. French pharmaceutical company Servier, like many others in the industry, has recognized this pivotal shift and prioritized patient involvement as a strategic imperative. Through robust partnerships and a patient-centric approach, the drugmaker aims to focus on the unique perspectives and experiences of those living with rare and complex conditions, paving the way for personalized, innovative treatments that improve lives.
At the heart of Servier’s approach is its Patient Affairs Department, which ensures patient engagement remains a cross-functional priority. Nicolas Garnier, Servier Global Chief Patient Officer (CPO), sees his role as “conducting an orchestra,” ensuring global patient affairs teams and local patient engagement champions embedded across departments and countries together to augment clinical protocols with patient insights, educational resources, and care strategies. The company’s 2030 goal—100% patient involvement in clinical protocols—reflects this ambition. Already achieving 70%, the company is accelerating progress through initiatives like Patient Advisory Councils, which gather diverse perspectives to co-create strategies and health solutions.
Nicolas Garnier, Chief Patient Officer at Servier
“Patients are no longer just beneficiaries of the healthcare ecosystem; they are active partners and decision-makers seeking more personalized care,” said Servier Chief Patient Officer Nicolas Garnier. “That's why we must work with them. We need to listen carefully to understand their needs and preferences—what we call unmet medical needs,” he said.
This is especially true for rare cancers, where patient insights can bridge gaps in research. Only about 5% of the more than 7,000 identified rare diseases have available treatments.
“Recognized as underserved communities, people with rare cancers face significant challenges, including difficulty in obtaining precise diagnoses, limited treatment options, few clinical trials, and a shortage of experts to care for them. This is why R&D for rare cancers, as well as access to molecular testing and personalized medicine, are so crucial,” he emphasized.
Servier oncology R&D programs focus on immuno-oncology and targeted therapies. The substantial investment in the fight against cancer is now reflected in a pipeline of 30 projects. Clinical trial results bring hope that significant breakthroughs are on the short-term horizon for patients with glioma. “Finding and developing new treatments for those hard-to-treat cancers is the next big frontier in our fight against cancer. We believe we can develop better rare cancer treatments by working closely with patients,” he added.
Servier uses two markers to evaluate the quality of its patient engagement. One is the long-term nature of the relationship with its partners. The other is the annual survey done by the British consulting firm PatientView. Known as “Corporate Reputation of Pharma,” the survey asks patient groups around the world to assess pharma companies’ performance in key areas including patient centricity, transparency, and quality of patient information.
“The survey is done independently and anonymously, so it’s a very good marker for a pharma company to understand its credibility and reputation among patients,” Dr. Garnier said. “These rankings aren’t trophies,” Nicolas stresses. “They’re proof that listening to patients cannot be just for show—it has to be genuine and meaningful.”
Trust, transparency, mutual benefit and respect define Servier’s partnerships. A flagship example is the SHAPE program, launched in 2018 with patient association Digestive Cancers Europe (DiCE) and many others. Focused on rare gastrointestinal and pancreatic cancers, SHAPE was co-designed with patient-experts, patient representatives, caregivers, and healthcare professionals to offer a range of videos and educational guides. Developed by patients for patients, the educational guides are now accessible in 18 languages—provide a wealth of practical advice on how to improve patient care and quality of life in the face of cancer throughout their disease journey. “SHAPE exemplifies our patient engagement approach,” he explained. “This program is truly co-created with the community for the community,” he said.
Nicolas’ unique trajectory—pediatric cancer survivor, scientist, and advocate—also fuels his determination. Diagnosed with osteosarcoma as a child, he understands the meaning of rare cancer journey. This lived experience, paired with his scientific rigor, informs Servier’s patient-driven strategies. “Patients want more diagnosis, more research, more drugs, better access and better outcomes,” he says. “Our job is to turn those wants into realities—no compromises. This journey has led me to what I believe is the best job in the world.”
Yet global engagement poses challenges: fragmented patient communities, cultural nuances, and complex regulatory landscapes. “Patient organizations are local, healthcare is local and real life is local—you can’t copy-paste solutions,” Nicolas notes.
To overcome this, Servier prioritizes hyper-local partnerships and hopes that digital solutions can help to connect with more people and erase distances.
Last year, Servier collaborated with over 140 patient organizations worldwide. In China, Servier supported CORD Chinese Organization of Rare Disorders, a renowned Chinese rare disease patient organization based in Hangzhou, to hold an event for glioma awareness. It also partnered with DI-AI Family in Beijing, China’s largest patient group for glioma patients, to spark a nationwide awareness campaign, reaching 6 million impressions.
“DI-AI helps us get specific feedback from Chinese glioma patients. Like what we do in the rest of the world, we will work closely with Chinese partners to address the challenges faced by Chinese patients,” Dr. Garnier said.
Servier has chosen to remain independent by adopting a unique governance structure through a non-profit foundation, the Fondation Internationale de Recherche Servier (FIRS), which allows it to stay focused on its long-term goals like patient centricity.
As the healthcare industry evolves, Servier’s dedication to patient engagement propels its pursuit of personalized, innovative treatments. Through robust partnerships with patient organizations and by attentively listening to those with rare and complex conditions, Servier addresses unmet needs and improves patient lives globally, while proving that ethical engagement and innovation are synergistic. Driven by a patient-centric philosophy, Servier’s playbook offers a powerful new vision of healthcare—where patients lead, and innovation follows.