Health insurance company Humana Inc. and pharmaceutical company Astellas Scientific and Medical Affairs Inc. have formed a multi-year research collaboration to look at ways to improve the health and well-being of seniors.
Louisville, Ky.-based Humana (NYSE: HUM) and Northbrook-based Astellas said they will bring together researchers and health care experts from both companies to study key issues and develop ways to reduce inefficiencies in the management of oncology, urology and immunology conditions.
“This research collaboration will produce knowledge in important therapeutic areas for our key population,” William Fleming, president of Humana Pharmacy Solutions, said in a statement. “With about 77 percent of all cancers being diagnosed in people 55 years of age and older, and 1 in 2 males and 1 in 3 females at risk for developing cancer in their lifetime, this partnership will serve to develop an important body of knowledge that will meaningfully advance the work of our respective companies.”
“Through this important collaboration, we’ll use clinical data to conduct comparative effectiveness research to evaluate ways to improve healthcare and health outcomes for patients,” said Astellas Vice President Jeffrey Bloss.
Astellas Scientific, is the U.S. subsidiary of Tokyo-based Astellas Pharma Inc.