Case Study 3: Organon – Recognising the Repercussions of Underinvesting in Women’s Health
Organon Calls for Recognition of the Repercussions of Underinvesting in Women’s Health
Overview:
- Launched: 2022 – ongoing
- Target Group: Global healthcare ecosystem (academia, investors, policymakers, researchers, public), with a specific focus on women and Organon’s employees
- Partner: Organon
Key Actions:
- Declared a paid company-wide day off on International Women’s Day for 10,000+ employees to advocate for women’s health.
- Launched a global campaign targeting gender gaps in medical research, treatment, and innovation.
- Shared compelling data (e.g. only 2 of 37 FDA-approved drugs in 2022 addressed female-specific conditions).
- Spotlighted neglected health areas: menopause, maternal health, endometriosis.
- Publicly pledged sustained investment in innovation and partnerships for women’s health.
- Tracked outcomes via investments, acquisitions, and partnership activity.
Impact (inferred):
- Elevated gender equity in global health discourse
- Increased media visibility and stakeholder engagement
- Positioned Organon as a mission-driven advocate
- Reinforced by economic evidence: a $300M investment in women’s health R&D could return $13B in benefits
Success Factors:
- Clear institutional commitment to gender equity
- Use of credible data to support advocacy
- Engaged, empowered workforce
- Alignment with global awareness days for impact amplification
- Strong global partnerships and policy networks
Sustainability:
- Integration of advocacy into corporate culture
- Ongoing R&D in female-specific conditions
- Continued employee-led initiatives and visibility campaigns
- Long-term partnerships in research and policy