Additionally, health leaders responding to PwC’s US Pulse Survey of C-Suite executives in March 2021 were mainly focused on diversity as opposed to changes around environmental reporting.

Overall, there are big differences in how ESG is viewed in different markets due to factors such as culture and religion. And even in situations where there is an acceptance of ESG and its principles, there are more differences than might be expected. On the issue of diversity and inclusion, for example, the U.S. is much more interested in mandating diversity to the extent that candidate shortlists are often required to include at least two female candidates. In Europe, the prevailing attitude is that it would be great to have women, but experience is still the key factor. The ethnic background of candidates also tends to be much more important in the U.S. than in Europe.

Recently, I sat down with a number of executives from a range of businesses across the life sciences sector to explore their perceptions of ESG and how it impacts their organisations.

The primary focus on the social element of ESG was immediately clear. In the words of Antonio Martin, global head of medical affairs at Novartis:


And as Rohit Sood, executive vice-president at Eversana, added:


For Natalia Kozmina, chief human resources officer and ESG steward at ConvaTec:


The biggest driver for ESG disclosures is coming from investors because they themselves are under increasing pressure from fund managers and their clients to put their money into more responsible businesses.

In an effort to understand the ESG practices of pre-commercial biotech companies, law firm Fenwick collected data through the review of the public disclosures of 50 U.S. based, development-stage public biotech companies. Their analysis indicated that 94% had at least one female board member and 70% had at least two female board members.

When asked about different types of diversity on which they reported, biotech executives were most focused on disclosures related to gender. Almost three-quarters said their organisations are reporting — or planning to report — gender diversity-led information.

The data also shows that both executives and investors are looking for clear guidance and standardisation around ESG, because there is currently no consensus on how or what to report. And whilst biotech executives and investors agree that ESG should be or will be a focus in the future, efforts to prepare for anticipated disclosure requirements vary across companies.


While diversity and inclusion also come under the governance pillar, this aspect of ESG is still largely seen as the preserve of boards. Hence, it is of greater concern to candidates for senior positions. However, given that investors are increasingly focusing on businesses that meet sustainability standards, an awareness of the importance of good governance is becoming more widespread.

Another key challenge for life sciences businesses is the environment. For example, supply chains involving treatments being developed in one country, manufactured in another, possibly stored in still another, and then shipped across the world are making it highly complex to manage carbon footprints. There are also issues such as waste and the extensive use of plastics and other forms of packaging.

However, from the conversations I had with senior executives, there’s still a feeling that failings in this area are to some extent compensated for by the fact that the industry is in general, “doing good.” Additionally, the life sciences sector is still enjoying something of a “halo effect” as a result of the speedy production of treatments and vaccines against Covid-19. Nevertheless, some acknowledge that further action is required. In the words of Natalia Kozmina:


Making this adjustment will have an impact on revenue and profitability. There will need to be efforts within businesses and the sector as a whole to create an understanding of the new priorities and ensuring that the senior people as well as the younger employees are committed. Deepak Khanna, recently retired leader of Merck’s operations outside the U.S., explained this to me as follows:


Both Merck and Novartis are Initiative Partners & Sponsors of the The Biopharma Investor ESG Communications Initiative which was set up to address the common interest of leading biopharma companies and investors in achieving more effective, efficient, and decision-useful communications about the ESG issues affecting the sector.

Although the climate crisis is becoming increasingly urgent and the drive to create more sustainable businesses is seen to be in everybody’s interest, there are few signs as yet that life sciences companies are using their stance on ESG as a key driver to recruit senior executives.

But as the younger employees move up their organisations and investors raise their demands for ESG targets to be met, this, too, will surely change. As Simon Newton, general manager, UK and Ireland, at Jazz Pharmaceuticals told me: