In today’s healthcare landscape, while life-changing therapies are more promising than ever, the journey from lab breakthrough to patient treatment is fraught with obstacles. Enter Precision AQ, the force behind launching 57% of all FDA-approved drugs in 2023, as well as many outside of the U.S. Their fusion of scientific acumen and empathetic insight is reshaping access, forging a new path through the complexities of a product’s lifecycle. Join us as we sit down with Precision AQ’s President, Doug Fulling, delving into how their formula of IQ + EQ is dismantling barriers and empowering access to transformative therapies for all.
Empowering access to life-changing therapies
Navigating the complexities of healthcare with a new blueprint for equity and empathy.
By Melissa Fleming
In today’s healthcare landscape, while life-changing therapies are more promising than ever, the journey from medical breakthrough to patient treatment is fraught with obstacles. Enter Precision AQ, the force behind launching 57% of all FDA-approved drugs in 2023, as well as many outside of the U.S. Its fusion of scientific acumen and empathetic insight is reshaping access, forging a new path through the complexities of a product’s lifecycle.
During a recent MM+M podcast, editor-in-chief Larry Dobrow sat down with Doug Fulling, president of Precision AQ, to discuss how the agency’s formula of intelligence quotient plus emotional quotient (IQ + EQ) is dismantling barriers and empowering access to transformative therapies for all.
Broadening the aperture on access
The COVID-19 pandemic increased awareness of health inequities and the need to address those disparities. To help clients navigate the access continuum, Precision AQ began investigating evidence generation and physician and patient education on new therapies, Fulling explained. In addition to these obstacles, he said, the organization is addressing smaller issues such as, “where the therapy will sit in an electronic health record, how a physician can find it easily, how to create pull-through strategies and messages that support providers and patients so they’re comfortable with the new therapies.”
Precision AQ, which stands for access quotient, unites multiple companies under one identity. While most people understand the significance of access within their silo, they tend to underestimate the scope of the issue. A comprehensive strategy is critical to effecting change. “Our offering brings together experts, advisors, and creators to address the challenges of patient access through a wider lens – ensuring payers, providers, patients and investors are all considered,” stated Fulling. Knowing that access starts with capital, Precision AQ helped to raise $5 billion through its investor relations firm providing funding for new biotech companies.
Moving in the same direction
Precision AQ has brought together nine distinct companies with scientists, data analysts, creatives, economists, market access experts and investors. This was no easy feat.
“Change is hard when you come from successful organizations with their own identities and cultures,” Fulling said. “Because we want to do something bigger, to have more of an impact in the industry, people are willing to let go of legacy identities and move forward,” he added.
Precision AQ is excited to see how everyone responds and to ensure the messaging resonates. While the rebranding of newer acquisitions was scheduled to roll out at a later date, brands such as Makara Health wanted to move sooner. “That validated that people understand where we’re going and are excited about it,” Fulling said.
Redefining access
With Precision AQ’s unified approach, they aim to partner with clients to tackle major access issues and drive significant change. “With new, novel therapies coming to market, especially in cellular therapies, there’s so much potential,” Fulling explained. “How do we ensure patients can benefit from these therapies in the most seamless way possible?”
The key to working together and transforming patient lives is being curious. “We invite our clients to discuss what keeps them up at night and how we can help solve those issues,” he explained.
Precision AQ’s priority is to galvanize the organization to solve for this concept of access quotient. “Healthcare requires this marriage of IQ and EQ – you need to have great science and great data to get medicines approved but you’re also dealing with people’s lives,” Fulling said. “We believe this blend in our new identity addresses both opportunities and challenges in the industry.”
