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But behind those high-profile acquisition announcements, JPM speakers and insiders also homed in on issues ranging from underfunded women’s health research to severe workforce shortages impacting several healthcare segments.
Many conference discussions spotlighted systemic hurdles and the promise of next-generation science. Malcolm Fogarty, advisor for strategic partnerships at Lindus Health, lauded Jill Biden’s $1 billion federal investment in women’s health research, calling it a “recognition that therapies affect men and women differently” and an overdue push for inclusivity in clinical studies. Dee Datta, Ph.D., CEO of Switch Therapeutics, echoed enthusiasm for deeper exploration of RNA interference, highlighting its “unparalleled opportunities to target diseases at a genetic level.” Meanwhile, Jonathan Shoemaker, CEO of ABOUT Healthcare, warned that severe staffing shortages and an aging population have created operational pressures “the healthcare industry isn’t fully prepared for.” On the manufacturing side, Kathy Spencer-Pike, chief commercial officer at Nucleus RadioPharma, observed that “advancing manufacturing solutions” is critical to meet growing demand for precision treatments, and Adrian Rawcliffe, CEO of Adaptimmune Therapeutics, noted that emerging cell therapies that “could fundamentally change cancer treatment.”
To get the full scoop on recent takeaways from the event, read on.
1. Women’s health going from marginalized to mainstream
Malcolm Fogarty
“This initiative supports FemTech and female founders by addressing medical issues women face.” – Malcolm Fogarty, Advisor for Strategic Partnerships at Lindus Health
In the waning days of the Biden administration, Jill Biden’s $1 billion federal investment in women’s health research took center stage at Fierce JPM Week 2025, where the former First Lady delivered a keynote address. “It’s time for the private sector to bring discoveries to market and into the hands of consumers. Women are waiting for better answers to improve their health,” Biden said. Moderated by Heather Landi, executive editor at Fierce Healthcare, this session—held on January 14 at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco—focused on the White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research and how it aimed to transform the approach to funding and studying conditions ranging from endometriosis to menopause. For advocates like Malcolm Fogarty, Advisor for Strategic Partnerships at Lindus Health, who noted that past therapies were often tested predominantly in men, Biden’s push confronted longstanding research gaps and sparked new momentum for FemTech and female-led startups.
“This significant [$1B] investment not only underscores the need to address the diverse range of medical issues women face but also supports innovation in women’s health, including increased backing for FemTech solutions and female founders,” noted Malcolm Fogarty of Lindus Health. He emphasized that “by changing the federal research process to be more inclusive and representative, this initiative recognizes that conditions and therapies often affect men and women differently.”
Dee Datta, Ph.D.
2. RNAi’s precision medicine leap
- “RNAi unlocks approaches for untreatable conditions with lasting impact.” – Dee Datta, Switch Therapeutics
- “Cell therapies are beginning to change cancer treatment.” – Adrian Rawcliffe, Adaptimmune
RNA interference (RNAi) has long been heralded for its precision, but according to Dee Datta, Ph.D. of Switch Therapeutics, “RNA interference (RNAi) continues to push the boundaries of precision medicine, offering unparalleled opportunities to target diseases at a genetic level.” She added that “as innovation advances, particularly in the central nervous system, our industry is unlocking new approaches to address complex and previously untreatable conditions with greater specificity and lasting impact.” Switch Therapeutics’ focus on genetic-level intervention aligns with a wider industry push to move beyond traditional small molecules and biologics.
Meanwhile, Adrian Rawcliffe, CEO of Adaptimmune Therapeutics, expressed optimism about T-cell therapies: “Cell therapies are beginning to change cancer treatment,” he said, referencing new approaches that harness T cells to recognize antigens specific to tumor cells. “Now that we have regulatory approvals for some solid-tumor therapies, we’re seeing the conversation shift from proof of concept to making these treatments more widely available,” Rawcliffe said.
3. Healthcare players chip away at bottlenecks in pharmaceuticals, hospital operations, and beyond
- “Optimizing bed utilization and workflow is critical for hospitals.” – Jonathan Shoemaker, CEO of ABOUT Healthcare
- “Scalable manufacturing will shape precision medicine.” – Kathy Spencer-Pike, Chief Commercial Officer at Nucleus RadioPharma
Kathy Spencer-Pike
Beyond scientific breakthroughs, many JPM attendees grappled with how to run leaner, more efficient operations. Jonathan Shoemaker, CEO of ABOUT Healthcare, highlighted that severe staffing shortages, an aging patient population, and growing reliance on government reimbursements are forcing hospital systems to streamline everything from bed utilization to digital patient intake. “Demographic shifts, like an aging population and severe staffing shortages, will continue to create significant challenges,” Shoemaker said. “The healthcare industry isn’t fully prepared for the changes ahead.”
In parallel, Kathy Spencer-Pike, Chief Commercial Officer at Nucleus RadioPharma, pointed out that bottlenecks in manufacturing—especially for advanced therapies like radiopharmaceuticals—can block timely patient access. “Advancing manufacturing solutions to meet the growing demand for life-saving therapies has never been more important,” she noted. “An expanded footprint enabling access to pharmaceuticals will remain central to shaping the future of precision medicine.” Her call for scalable infrastructure resonates across the industry, where scaling up precision medicine is as much an engineering challenge as a clinical one. Health systems such as Providence, which saved $1 billion partly by cutting contract labor, demonstrate that operational resilience is both a financial and a care-quality imperative.
4. Hospitals are adopting AI not just for diagnostics but to solve operational crises
Jonathan Shoemaker
“There was widespread discussion about the uncertainty around the new administration’s impact on healthcare.” – Jonathan Shoemaker, CEO of ABOUT Healthcare
Shoemaker’s cautionary note also extends to the broader regulatory landscape: with FTC/DOJ scrutiny of private equity deals intensifying, and figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stepping into key health policy roles, many executives worry about abrupt changes to reimbursement models or M&A approvals. “With more patients relying on government reimbursements and staffing levels stretched thin, optimizing hospital operations and patient flow will be critical,” Shoemaker said. Some integrated systems, such as Advocate Health, have rolled out forward-looking strategies (like “Rewire 2030”) and academic tie-ups (e.g., with Wake Forest) to stay agile in case of policy pivots.
5. Solid tumors enter the personalized treatment era
Adrian Rawcliffe
“We are only beginning to uncover their potential to fundamentally change cancer treatment in years to come.” – Adrian Rawcliffe, CEO of Adaptimmune Therapeutics
Adrian Rawcliffe’s optimism at JPM about cell therapies for solid tumors spoke volumes amid ongoing market volatility. “With the recent regulatory approvals of two such therapies, we are only beginning to uncover their potential to fundamentally change cancer treatment in years to come,” Rawcliffe said. Adaptimmune Therapeutics, for instance, is using T-cell receptor (TCR) technology to target tumors once deemed “undruggable.” By engineering T cells to recognize specific peptides on cancer cells, these treatments offer a level of specificity that can reduce collateral damage to healthy tissue. “The atmosphere at this year’s conference was positive despite ongoing market volatility, particularly in conversations surrounding cell therapies for solid tumors,” Rawcliffe added.
Filed Under: Drug Discovery, Immunology, Oncology
