e & a health policy consultants I OUR TEAM I
Managing Director
Johan Eykens
Expertise
For more than 25 years I have been active in the health care sector, representing companies, promoting products with competent authorities, academics, health funds and healthcare professionals. Learning from, interacting with and sharing expertise with these stakeholders are the basis of the engagement process leading to access of new therapies to patients, the essence of our work. As a former member of the Belgian Medicines Reimbursement Committee and former chair at the Federal Agency of Medicines, I value the close collaboration with Health Care Authorities. As a Vice-President of the Council of Local Economy of Tervuren, I share my professional expertise with fellow citizens to create a lively and dynamic community.
Qualifications
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Pharmacist – KU Leuven
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Master of Science in Pharmacology – University of Bradford (UK)
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Postgraduate in Business Administration – KU Leuven
Career summary
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2002 – present: Managing Director of E&A Farma
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Management positions with Merck-Serono, EG, MSD and Leo Pharma
Market Access Consultant
Sofie Verhaegen
Expertise
I became really passionate about the pricing and reimbursement environment when I was still in university. I had the opportunity to do an internship at Pfizer in market access. After working in the regulatory environment, I Joined E&A consultants in 2018.
Market access is really the last step to give the patient access to their medication. I think a really important message in our job, and moreover our goal is to make the healthcare system more accessible for every one of us.
Within this mindset, I’m really interested in the pricing and reimbursement environment. Working together as a team is one of the key elements for success in market access.
Qualifications
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2020 - present: Master of Health Care Management and Policy at the KULeuven
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2017: Master in pharmaceutical sciences at the KULeuven
Career summary
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2018 - present: Market Access Consultant at E&A Farma
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2017-2018: Regulatory Affairs Officer at EG
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2016-2017: Market Access Internship at Pfizer
Senior Associate Consultant
Lisa Thyrion
I Lisa THYRION I
Expertise
A strong interest in therapeutic innovation sparked me to study biotechnology and pursue a PhD in medical sciences. After completing my PhD, I switched to the pharmaceutical sector in look of a stronger focus on patient welfare, in which I strengthened medical teams in the fields of respiratory care and rare diseases. The close collaboration with market access during this period spiked my interest in pricing and reimbursement as a key element of delivering healthcare to the patient. I am delighted to now be part of the e&a team to contribute to dossiers that help making a difference at this crucial level.
Qualifications
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2021 - present: Master of Health Care Management and Policy at the KULeuven
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2016: PhD in Medical Sciences at Ghent University
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2011: Master in Biochemistry & Biotechnology at Ghent University
Career summary
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2019- present: Market Access Officer at E&A Farma
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2019: Medical Science Liaison Belux Rare Diseases at Kyowa Kirin
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2016-2018: Medical Advisor Respiratory Care at Chiesi
Expertise
My interest in Market Access was sparked during the courses of Health economics and The Lifecycle of a drug in my first year as a master student in Drug Development at the KU Leuven. I find pricing and reimbursement a critical tipping point for patients to gain access to their medication. The internship at E&A is an ultimate chance to put theory into practice, while gaining soft skills and knowledge of the inner working of the pharmaceutical industry
Qualifications
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2020 - Present: Master Drug Development (Pharmaceutical Sciences) at KU Leuven
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July 2021: Advanced Clinical Research Monitoring Workshop.
Associate Consultant
Andrea Verdoodt
Freelance Medical Writer
Jésabelle Kibanda
Expertise
After practicing as a veterinarian in the UK for 3 years, I came back to Belgium and switched career paths to work in the pharmaceutical industry. I have always had a very strong affinity for medical sciences and first learned about medical writing while enrolled in the CLINET training program in 2013. After working for a few years in different branches of the pharmaceutical industry, where I was first exposed to market access, I decided to focus on Medical Writing, which combines my love of science and writing. I started working as a consultant for E&A Farma in 2022 and I am excited to begin this new chapter of my career where my work will be part of the important process of improving patient access to medication.
Qualifications
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2013: CLINET training “Expert in clinical studies” - Cefochim
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2010: Doctor in Veterinary Medicine – Université de Liège
Career Summary
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2022 – present: Freelance Medical Writer – Consultant for E&A Farma
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2020 – 2021: Scientific Writer at Modis Life Sciences
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2017 – 2019: Biology Teaching Assistant and PhD student - Université Libre de Bruxelles
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2015 – 2017: Medical Advisor Respiratory Care, Neonatology and Rare Diseases - Chiesi
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2013 – 2015: Clinical Research Assistant - Quintiles (now IQVIA)
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2010 – 2013: Veterinarian (UK)
Expertise
I studied Biochemistry and Biotechnology at UGent, after which I completed a PhD at the VIB-Ugent center for inflammation research. Looking for a new challenge where I could have an impact on patient lives, I switched to the pharmaceutical industry and joined E&A consultants in 2022. I’m happy to be part of E&A, where we as a team help to bring new treatments to the market, and assure that patients in need have access to these new treatments.
Qualifications
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2020: PhD in Biochemistry and Biotechnology at Ghent University
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2014: Master in Biochemistry & Biotechnology at Ghent University
Career Summary
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2020–2022: Post-Doctoral researcher at VIB-Ugent center for inflammation research, Ghent University