Season 11: episode 4
This week, Isabel sits down with Carol Pitcher-Towner, Senior Vice President and Head of Development Programmes, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, to unpack the gender inequities that continue to tarnish modern healthcare. Together, they explore the realities behind unequal outcomes and the steps needed to build a more inclusive future for patients.
In the episode, Carol reflects on her path into drug development and shares why addressing gender disparities is both professionally important and personally meaningful. She explains where health outcomes between men and women diverge most sharply, how diagnostic bias still shapes clinical experiences and the lasting impact of women’s historic under-representation in clinical trials. Carol also lays out a clear vision for what the industry must do next to deliver true equity in the future.
Quickfire questions
Deep dives
Speaker bio
Carol Pitcher-Towner is Senior Vice President and Head of Development Programs at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals. Since joining the company in 2014 as one of its first European regulatory leaders, she has gone on to oversee patient safety, risk management and Alnylam’s global development portfolio. With more than 20 years of experience, including roles at AstraZeneca, Carol brings deep expertise across regulatory affairs and clinical development. She holds a PhD in Biological Sciences from the University of Warwick and was named an HBA Luminary in 2022 for her commitment to inclusive, patient-focused innovation.
This content was reviewed by Alnylam UK Ltd for compliance with regulations applicable to the pharmaceutical industry only.
