At a roundtable during the Veeva Summit being held in Madrid today (June 4) and tomorrow, Dr Werner Engelbrecht, senior director of clinical strategy at Veeva Systems, shared a powerful message: pharmaceutical technology must do more than improve efficiency — it must support human connection.

Across the industry, terms like “collaboration” and “patient-centricity” are commonplace. But how do these values translate into practical tech-driven solutions? Dr Engelbrecht offered a thoughtful perspective on the role technology can play in fostering awareness, communication, and trust — not just within companies, but across the wider pharma ecosystem.

“We’re not just building tools for pharma — we’re helping to build bridges between researchers, regulators, hospitals and patients.”

From efficiency to empathy

Dr Engelbrecht began by acknowledging that while technology is often lauded for improving speed and data access, it also has the potential to impact more human concerns — such as transparency, understanding, and shared decision-making.

He cited the need for better communication between pharma companies and clinical sites, regulators, and most crucially, patients.

“We alone can’t change the world. But we can enable better communication between stakeholders — whether that’s patients, sites, or authorities.” 

One of the key examples he raised was supporting pharmaceutical companies in engaging patient groups more meaningfully. Through improved digital channels and simplified platforms, technology can allow patients to better understand their treatment options, provide feedback, and feel more involved in clinical development.

“We want to support not only the pharmaceutical industry, but also how they engage with patients. That means giving them the tools to foster trust and facilitate real dialogue.”

Empowering investigators and hospitals

Another priority for Veeva is making clinical site engagement more streamlined and collaborative. The complexity of data flow between pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, and research centres can be a barrier — not just to timelines, but to relationships.

To address this, Veeva has recently expanded its operations to include a dedicated team focused on direct hospital engagement. This team not only offers software tools, but works with site staff to help them understand how to collaborate more effectively with sponsors — aiming to establish shared digital standards that make information exchange smoother and more intuitive.

“It’s about building confidence — not just in the technology, but in the intent behind it. Investigators and patients need to feel that we, as an industry, are serious about safety, quality, and collaboration.”

Supporting regulatory collaboration

One of the most promising changes Dr Engelbrecht has noticed in recent years is a greater spirit of cooperation between national and European regulatory bodies. Since the pandemic, he’s seen unprecedented alignment between the European Medicines Agency (EMA), national regulators, and the European Commission.

“I’ve never seen this level of collaboration before — not in this way,” he said. “It’s something we as a technology provider want to support and encourage.”

Veeva’s role in this space includes offering infrastructure and insight to support regulatory harmonisation and the secure, efficient exchange of clinical data. When digital platforms are built for openness and clarity, they allow regulators and industry leaders to focus on shared goals — such as accelerating access to treatments and upholding patient safety.

Driving long-term, human-centred change

Throughout the roundtable, a consistent theme emerged: technology in pharma must be shaped by human needs — not the other way around.

That means platforms and tools must not only deliver functionality, but must also reflect the industry’s broader mission: to serve patients, empower researchers, and improve lives.

“For us, this isn’t just about digitising workflows,” Dr Engelbrecht concluded. “It’s about helping our customers and partners collaborate in a way that brings real, human value — and lasting change.”