Leading the Race to a Vaccine- Nanette Cocero, PhDs Global President of Pfizer Vaccines
Nanette Cocero, PhDs Global President of Pfizer Vaccines
Dr. Nanette Cocero is responsible for the development and delivery of innovative solutions that address serious and life-threatening conditions, helping to protect communities around the world. The current Covid-19 crisis has brought challenges unimaginable just months ago, but she continues to lead a global team of 1,500 colleagues and manage relationships with governments and civic organizations with her unbreakable belief that at the end, SCIENCE WILL WIN
How did you arrive at your current position? I’ve had a passion for science and medicine for as long as I can remember. A defining moment occurred before my career officially began, while I was at the University of Pennsylvania pursuing my doctorate. I was part of the Pharmacology PhD program, but I had a growing interest in business and a curiosity about the kind of impact I could make outside of a research lab. I decided to pursue an MBA in addition to my PhD. It wasn’t a conventional choice! But my long-term goal was to make a profound impact on global health – the same goal that drives me today – and I saw a path through the combination of science AND business. I ultimately joined Pfizer because I believe the work we do to deliver breakthrough medicines and vaccines has the profound impact I was looking for.
The work we do is also deeply personal. When my son Javier was just a baby, he developed an infection that had a serious impact on his health. Although he’s now a thriving 24-year-old, I am driven to do everything I can to ensure that other children won’t have to suffer the way my son did. Today, our research and development team at Pfizer is working on a vaccine for the exact infection Javier contracted, so I do feel in many ways that I am exactly where I should be.
What advice do you have for Latinos considering a career in STEM, especially women? My advice is to follow your passion and your instincts, and always bring your true self to the table. Also, if you meet someone who could be a good mentor, ask them! I am indebted to the mentors I’ve had throughout my career, both formal and informal.
Think beyond the people in your immediate community too. Technology makes us global citizens; with online forums and social media ensuring we are only ever a click away from being inspired by a career in science, something that wasn’t available when I was growing up. I recommend using these platforms to find and follow women who are pioneering their own paths in STEM jobs all around the world.
The challenge we are now facing seemed unimaginable just a few months ago - how do you manage pressure and what is the greatest lesson you have learned from this experience? Since the start of the coronavirus crisis, what has motivated me and kept me going – both professionally and personally – is the belief that science WILL win. Yes, the challenge is immense, but I feel encouraged by the collaboration, innovation and determination that has enabled the global health community to mobilize with such urgency and focus. I’ve also been inspired every day by the dedication of the thousands of scientists and healthcare professionals working together across the world to conduct COVID-19 research, and the many thousands of people who have volunteered to take part in clinical trials. We owe each of them a debt of gratitude.
I’ve learned to find silver linings in the way we’re operating as a company during this time as well. Many of our colleagues – including myself – have been working remotely since March, and we are privileged to have that option. Instead of feeling frustrated or discouraged about not being able to meet with my team face-to-face, I’m thankful for the real joy I’ve found in our virtual catch-ups, where I sometimes even have the opportunity to say hello to my colleagues’ families. It fills me with hope that although we are physically distanced, our response is to find new ways to connect with each other. Some of the learnings around connecting in new ways with colleagues, customers and patients will help us to continue to be more effective in adapting to the changing environment.
Why is it important to have Latinos represented in clinical trials and what is the pharmaceutical industry doing to actively engage minorities in the process? The pandemic absolutely has drawn focus to the need for greater racial and ethnic diversity in clinical trials. This is not a new issue – diverse communities have long been underrepresented in clinical research – but COVID-19 has shone a necessary spotlight on the work we have to do.
With our vaccine trial we made it a priority to enroll a diverse population, one that reflects the diversity of the world we live in and is inclusive of communities that have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19, like the Hispanic/Latino community. We know that Hispanics and Latinos are among those who have seen higher rates of COVID-19, more severe COVID-19 illnesses, hospitalizations, and increased mortality, so it’s absolutely critical that we’re represented as potential interventions are being evaluated.
I’m proud that Pfizer has taken active steps to engage our community. We established our trial sites in states with large numbers of Latinos and have partnered with trusted grassroots organizations, like Hispanic Federation and Día de la Mujer Latina, to raise awareness and understanding about the importance of trial participation. And we’ve worked to reduce barriers to enrollment, like language.
Throughout the enrollment process, we tracked our progress publicly on our website, Pfizer. com – and if you go there, you’ll see that 26% of global participants and 13% of U.S. participants enrolled in our Phase 3 trial are Hispanic/Latino.
As an industry, I do hope we will continue to hold ourselves accountable in this area, take our learnings from COVID-19 and apply them to more trials moving forward. And for me as a Latina, I feel a personal responsibility to help make that happen.
What are your short and long term goals for the next 12 months? Of course, first and foremost is delivering a COVID-19 vaccine around the world, pending regulatory authorizations and approvals. But another near-term goal is to ensure that vaccinations for other serious and potentially fatal infectious diseases, such as pneumococcal disease or flu, are appropriately prioritized. This can help protect the health of the most vulnerable among us, particularly people over age 65, and also preserve healthcare resources – especially now that subsequent waves of COVID-19 are materializing in some countries.
We are also very focused on building public trust and supporting education on the safety of vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines. The pledge that Pfizer signed alongside our industry peers underscores our shared commitment to scientific integrity and rigor, and made it clear that we will never cut a corner or compromise safety for speed.
More long-term, as a result of COVID-19, the value of prevention in healthcare is now better and more widely understood than ever before. We need to build on this moment to further prioritize disease prevention in the future.
What brings you the most satisfaction as you head such a crucial role? Lives depend on Pfizer’s ability to make more diseases preventable for more people. This is what drives me as a leader. The coronavirus pandemic has painfully exposed many of the inequities that exist in access to healthcare. I find meaning in working with the global health community to look for solutions to these issues and help ensure that any potential vaccine or medicine we produce can reach the people who need it.
Will this pandemic change the Pharma industry? If so how? It’s been clear from the start that no one company or organization acting alone will be able to bring an end to the COVID-19 crisis. I feel very optimistic that the partnerships and collaborations that have been mobilized so quickly in the face of COVID-19 will continue in one form or another. 2020 is the year that we have shown we are stronger together and I can’t help but wonder what strides can be made on other diseases if we sustain this high level of collaboration on behalf of patients.
What philosophy do you lead your teams with and what is your one rule for work and life? I believe strongly in the value of diverse perspectives and input. When people from different backgrounds, with different experiences and skills sets, come together, it can be really powerful… and almost always leads us to find more innovative solutions. I believe in collective wisdom – no one of us has all the answers, and that’s okay. With a team that trusts each other, aims high, and isn’t afraid to take on a certain amount of risk in order to make the greatest impact – NOTHING is impossible!
In terms of my one rule, I would say: always be YOU and bring the best version of you at all times! There is no substitute for authenticity, in all aspects of life.