At the UN summit on 25 September 2015, Agenda 2030 for a sustainable development was adopted. The agenda consists of 17 global goals and 169 targets that will lead the world towards a sustainable future. Achieving these goals requires efforts and cooperation between the civil society, academia, and business. The role of the private sector is crucial in contributing to innovative solutions. LIDDS’ clearest and most important contribution to a global sustainable future lies in the formulation of drugs so that they can be administered in a safer and more efficient way. LIDDS’ sustainability work is based on these global sustainability goals, which include health, gender equality and equality, business, partnership, and the environment. LIDDS acts responsibly in line with those of these areas that are most relevant to our business and our stakeholders such as shareholders, patients, employees, healthcare professionals, authorities, suppliers, and the society at large.
The ability to continuously identify and manage risks in an effective manner is important for the company’s success. The Board is responsible for risk management and identifies, evaluates, and trace the risks within the business annually. We have decided to focus our sustainability work from four different perspectives:
- Patients
- Planet
- People
- Partnerships
Patients
It is our belief that our NanoZolid technology and the drugs formulated with this technology will offer more effective cancer treatments with fewer side effects and an improved quality of life for patients. Of the United Nations´ 17 sustainability goals, goal number 3, good health and well-being, is the most important sustainability area that LIDDS can contribute to. Of goal number 3, the target 3.4 – reduce one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being, is the most relevant for LIDDS.
LIDDS’ most advanced project, Liproca Depot, aims to offer patients with prostate cancer who are under active surveillance and who today cannot be offered any active treatment for their condition, an alternative to keep the disease under control and thus avoid radical treatments that often involve a fundamental deteriorating quality of life. With the NanoZolid technology, it becomes possible to inject the drug directly into or near the tumor, resulting in that the whole body do not need to be exposed to the drug, only the tissue that needs to be treated. The controlled and sustained release of the active drug that our technology entails also allow for fewer treatments, increased patient safety and reduced care costs.
Planet
UN goal number 13 is an effort to combat climate change. Drug development takes a long time and involves many complex processes, which can result in a high consumption of resources. Therefore, LIDDS’ starting point is to constantly strive to optimize resource consumption in the company’s operations to reduce the climate footprint. By improving and refining already established drugs, we reduce the negative environmental impact through a shorter development time to market and patient.
Development of new drugs is covered by many regulations. The development of new treatments is achieved by complying with the drug standards set by regulators, including the FDA in the United States and the EMA in Europe. At LIDDS, we are committed to following industry guidelines covering all areas of our value chain, including development, clinical trials, manufacturing, and drug management where standards govern safe production and monitoring of treatments (e.g., GLP, GVP, GCP, GMP, GDP).
People
Decent work conditions and economic growth are the UN:s eighth climate goals. It aims to promote sustainable, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment with decent work conditions for all.
LIDDS’ employees are fundamental to our ability to achieve our vision and business strategies. Employee participation, commitment and expertise are crucial for the success of the company. Supporting LIDDS’ employees in their development, well-being and job satisfaction are therefore important. We are proud to be able to offer a stimulating and inclusive workplace with equal development opportunities for all.
By acting ethically and responsibly in everything we do, through high standards in our research, business ethics and policies, we create a sustainable organization that is intended to contribute to society and a support for our employees to behave righteously. The purpose is to build a sustainable organization by complying with the guidelines that are set, and by supporting a culture that promotes open discussion about business ethics. In the activities that LIDDS conducts, issues such as compliance with regulations, management of corruption risks, product safety and ethical research that are the focus of our work to comply to an ethical and responsible approach. We continuously review and renew our policies and governance to ensure that we maintain the high standards and requirements set on ourselves and based on the expectations of others outside the company.
Partnership
With a largely outsourced supply chain, we rely on sustainable and robust suppliers to produce, package, and distribute our study drugs. We expect compliance and the highest standards from our suppliers. Our aim is to obtain a clear overview of our suppliers’ operations to make sure that they meet the sustainability targets set. Therefore, we focus on suppliers who set high targets and standards for their sustainability efforts. As an example, one of LIDDS’ contract manufacturers of Liproca Depot has received an environmental certification (ISO 14001) for its manufacturing process. LIDDS also conducts recurring inspections on an ongoing basis to ensure that our suppliers comply with the quality standards that are set within the pharmaceutical industry.