Engagement with legislators and advocates about innovation in health and technology to address critical public health issues affecting underserved communities
WASHINGTON, D.C. – November 16, 2018 – Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc. (Otsuka), a global leader in the development of digital and traditional treatments for mental illness, together with honorary co-host U.S. Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) hosted a roundtable discussion of the expanding role of technology in the future of healthcare and its potential to break down barriers to care and support patient outcomes.
The November 15th event, held in Washington, D.C., was attended by members of the Congressional Black Caucus and healthcare and technology thought leaders from Proteus Digital Health, National Medical Association, National Minority Quality Forum, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America and United States Senate (staff).
William H. Carson, M.D., president and CEO of Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc., led the conversation by discussing the innovations that are driving the future of digital medicine and healthcare.
“Healthcare is moving from analog to digital. Now more than ever, patients and their families have access to tools to better manage their health,” said Dr. Carson. “By working closely with legislators and technology collaborators, we are paving the way for further innovation in drug discovery and technology solutions that can improve health outcomes for people living with serious mental illnesses. Our commitment to digital medicine represents a milestone in our desire to move to a new generation of promise and possibilities.”
Technologies play an increasingly important role in the healthcare system to coordinate care, empower patients and providers and advance the science of medicine. These innovations have the power to transform healthcare and create a more personalized, patient-centered approach to medicine. However, they do not come without challenges, particularly as new frontiers bring questions related to patient data and privacy and ensuring access for all. 
Representative Watson Coleman stressed the need for Congress and innovators to collaborate on policies that will enable all communities and patients to have access to digital medicine and healthcare.
“Digital medicine brings tremendous potential to connect more people to high-quality, affordable health care that is personalized to individual patient needs. From analytics to mobile and sensor technology, the promise of these advancements is evidenced by the investment we’ve seen in digital medicine, but as we work on bringing these products to consumers, we must also ensure we consider both privacy and access concerns,” said Watson Coleman. “I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress, partners in healthcare like Otsuka, and innovators in the technology sector to connect patients with these products in ways that will improve lives.”
The outcomes from the roundtable will help shape actions in the next Congress and help drive the future of health innovation.
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc.
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Company is a global healthcare company with the corporate philosophy: “Otsuka–people creating new products for better health worldwide.” Otsuka researches, develops, manufactures and markets innovative products, with a focus on pharmaceutical products to meet unmet medical needs and nutraceutical products for the maintenance of everyday health.
In pharmaceuticals, Otsuka is a leader in the challenging area of mental health and also has research programs on several under-addressed diseases including tuberculosis, a significant global public health issue. These commitments illustrate how Otsuka is a “big venture” company at heart, applying a youthful spirit of creativity in everything it does.
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc. (OPDC) is dedicated to clinical development of promising drug candidates in mental health, oncology, cardio-renal, and nephrology. Other activities include strategic planning for drug approval, marketing, and lifecycle management to maximize a product’s full potential.
OPDC is an indirect subsidiary of Otsuka Pharmaceutical Company, Ltd., which is a subsidiary of Otsuka Holdings Co., Ltd. headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. The Otsuka group of companies employed 46,000 people worldwide and had consolidated sales of approximately USD 11.1 billion in 2017.
All Otsuka stories start by taking the road less travelled. Learn more about Otsuka in the U.S. at www.otsuka-us.com and connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter at @OtsukaUS. Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.’s global website is accessible at www.otsuka.co.jp/en/.
Representative Watson Coleman
Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman represents a diverse area of New Jersey that includes Trenton, Princeton and Plainfield. First elected in 2014, she serves on the House Committee on Homeland Security, where she is the Vice Ranking Member, and the Oversight and Government Reform Committee. She is also a founder and co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls. To learn more about her work in Congress, visit watsoncoleman.house.gov.