A “super-aged” population in Taiwan isn’t a future challenge; it’s already here. As 7 of Taiwan’s 22 cities face the demands of a population with 20% aged 65 or older, innovative healthcare solutions are imperative. GSK – a global biopharma company with a purpose to unite science, technology, and talent to get ahead of disease together – is dedicated to bringing better disease prevention and providing enhanced protection for children and older adults alike. With its breakthrough innovations, GSK is providing better health solutions for the super-aged society.

“It’s wonderful that we’re living longer,” says GSK Taiwan General Manager Tina Graves. “But our immune systems get weaker as we age. So at GSK, we are targeting our innovations to specific conditions that are becoming more prevalent over time.”

The company, which has been in Taiwan since 1980 and aims to positively impact the health of 2.5 billion people globally by the end of the decade, focuses on four core therapeutic areas: infectious diseases, HIV, respiratory/immunology, and oncology.

As the population ages, patients with chronic diseases become a heavy burden for the health system within our society, taking an increasing toll on people’s lives. By around 2050, chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, and respiratory illnesses could account for more than 80% of the estimated 90 million deaths each year.

Treatment is paramount to a healthy population, but prevention is equally crucial.

Significant advances in science and technology mean we are now better placed than ever to get ahead of the disease. New technologies, such as adjuvants and mRNA, could be used to create vaccines against viruses and bacteria that have eluded scientists for decades. Advances in genomics have the potential to help predict and prevent future diseases.

GSK has made tremendous progress in preventing and changing the course of disease. Vaccines help protect people from infectious diseases at every stage of life. Today, GSK delivers approximately 1.5 million vaccine doses daily, and 4 out of 10 infants born each year receive at least one GSK vaccine. The company aims to reach 1.3 billion people with vaccines, a significant contribution to its overall ambition to positively impact the health of 2.5 billion people by the end of the decade.

As the population ages, vaccinations become even more valuable because they help people live well for longer. GSK Australia in October released a report titled “Prevention: A Productivity Superpower,” examining the opportunity to increase access to vaccination and disease prevention. Analyses in the report show that the increasing investment in adult immunization has the potential to deliver US$1.1 billion in benefits every year.

The report also demonstrates that every dollar invested into vaccinating adults against common illnesses provides a US$3.50 economic return.

Secret of staying ahead

When asked how to stay ahead in this changing world, Graves says, “It’s about our brilliant people.”

GSK unites science, technology, and talent to get ahead of disease together, working to make the company a place where everyone can thrive by attracting and motivating a diverse community of outstanding people.

“It’s about how we work as an organization to deliver our best,” says Graves. “Thinking and working as one GSK, not in siloes, and combining the best expertise and capabilities from across GSK.”

For GSK, the other important aspect of “Together” is how we look outside the organization to achieve our ambitions. This approach involves seeking out the right people and the best expertise to join forces and establishing partnerships with other companies, academia, governments, and multinational organizations to get ahead together toward a healthier future. 

“It’s incredible to see how far we’ve come,” says Graves. “Our job at GSK is incredibly meaningful. We put patients at the center of everything we do and hold ourselves accountable. It isn’t just about treating and preventing disease – it’s about making a long-term impact on the health of the more than 23 million people living in Taiwan.”