Earlier this year, and very much unexpectedly, I was contacted by Alzheimer Europe who had been approached by Eisai, the Japanese pharmaceutical company, to give a talk to their European human health care (hhc) team. Eisai is globally known for its research and development in neurology and oncology and is dedicated to a philosophy of prioritising patient care. Having been briefed by their Senior Director, Communications EMEA, I drove to their Hatfield location, about an hour from where I live in the UK, on 18 February to present to the hhc team the reality of my life as a carer to my wife Yvonne who was diagnosed with young onset Alzheimer’s disease in 2013 when she was 57. I was advised that some of the team had experience of dementia in their family whilst others had none.
My presentation style is not to hide behind any aspects of the disease but to tell it how it is and to encourage questions, however difficult or probing they might be. I expected the session to last an hour, tops, but such was the genuine interest and flow of questions that we had to wind up after an hour and a half if only not to miss lunch ! After lunch, and as part of my commitment to Eisai, I had agreed to record a podcast with their VP, Head of Medical Affairs, EMEA covering much of the ground from the morning session but for consumption across the entire Eisai business. I believe the current plan is that the podcast will be released in early June, during Carers Week. Eisai is an enlightened company, keen to ensure its employees are well informed about the needs and challenges of those who may benefit from their research and development and I was therefore delighted to play a small part in supporting this commendable philosophy.
