A new report from PatientView highlights the continued importance of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) policies in shaping patient groups' perceptions of major pharmaceutical companies. Despite declining corporate interest and increasing political opposition to ESG in the U.S., the survey of 701 patient groups found that 94% consider a company's social impact important, followed by 88% prioritizing corporate governance and 67% emphasizing environmental practices.

When ranking 15 major drugmakers on ESG performance, Roche was rated highest overall, followed by Gilead Sciences and Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine. Among companies that patient groups have directly partnered with, Gilead took the top spot, followed by Roche and AstraZeneca.

The report also suggests that patient groups want clearer communication and more concrete actions from pharma companies regarding ESG initiatives. While the study underscores ESG's relevance to patient organizations, broader business support for ESG is wavering. A GlobalData survey found that only 8% of people believe ESG will significantly impact their business in the next year, down from 20% in 2022.

In the U.S., ESG has become a contentious issue, with multiple states enacting laws against such policies. PatientView noted that fewer U.S. patient groups participated in this survey compared to past pharma-related studies, likely reflecting the growing controversy surrounding ESG commitments.

Source: Fierce Pharma