Working together to advance cancer care – to eliminate cancer as a cause of death

Every day, more than 100 people in Switzerland are diagnosed with cancer. Despite medical advances, the disease remains one of the leading causes of death. Finding the best possible treatment for each patient is becoming increasingly complex. That is why we are involved in shaping policy decisions and are committed to numerous projects aimed at improving healthcare. Together with partners from research and practice, we also promote digital progress.

At AstraZeneca, we are pursuing the ambitious goal of eliminating cancer as a cause of death. That is why, at this year's summer retreat, we focused intensively on how we can optimize cancer care – with a focus on enabling personalized treatment for all patients. Digitalization plays a crucial role in this. It enables more precise diagnoses, faster decisions, and personalized therapies.

Learn more in our video.

The potential and challenges of artificial intelligence in oncology

In conversation with Dr. Wiebke Rösler, Senior Physician at the Clinic for Medical Oncology and Hematology at the University Hospital of Zurich, PD Dr. Roch-Philippe Charles, Chief Scientific Officer at the Swiss Cancer Institute, and Dr. Danny Kupka, Deputy Senior Physician in Oncology at the Fribourg Hospital (HFR), we discussed various potentials and challenges of artificial intelligence in cancer treatment. Our goal is to advance existing projects with new solutions and efficiently promote digital transformation in medicine.

Established collaborations and projects in the field of breast and lung cancer

We also maintain various collaborations – including with Pink Cube, an initiative to promote breast cancer prevention, and the European breast cancer coalition Europa Donna, to enable comprehensive national breast cancer screening. Early detection is crucial, but access to screening and awareness of available programs still vary greatly from region to region. In addition, participation rates are low, even in cantons with established programs.

In the field of lung cancer, we have initiated a nationwide, hospital-wide project in collaboration with medical specialists to facilitate professional exchange between local, hospital-based multidisciplinary tumor boards (MDTs). MDTs promote cooperation between hospitals and different disciplines to provide cancer patients with individually tailored treatment plans. This significantly improves treatment outcomes.

At AstraZeneca, we are committed to driving innovation and digital health every day, and we are convinced that together with our partners, we can make a difference – for healthcare professionals, for society, and above all, for patients.