3 Questions to Sara Leitão, Managing Director Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine Austria

Austria offers many strengths: high-quality medicine, broad healthcare coverage, and a solid social insurance system. However, there’s a clear gap in access: while hospital patients have a legal right to receive state-of-the-art therapies, outpatient care is only required to be “adequate and appropriate.” This often means that innovative treatments are only considered after multiple unsuccessful attempts with other therapies.

In addition, resource-intensive benefit assessment processes can significantly delay the start of therapy, especially in outpatient settings. These delays are compounded by cost pressures from healthcare reforms, increasingly complex regulatory requirements, and demographic shifts that strain the system.

On a global level, the industry faces rising R&D costs and lower success rates in late-stage development. These challenges are further intensified by geopolitical tensions and their impact on supply chains. To remain competitive, we need strategic reshoring initiatives, attractive conditions for API production, and more digitized, efficient regulatory processes.

Underlying many of these challenges is a fundamental issue: health is still too often viewed primarily as a cost factor, rather than as a long-term investment in societal well-being and economic resilience. This mindset limits the potential of healthcare systems to evolve and fully leverage innovation for better patient outcomes.

One of the biggest challenges I currently face is the perceived inefficiency in regulatory and reimbursement processes – particularly around digitization. Accelerating these procedures is essential to ensure timely patient access to innovative therapies. In addition, developing adaptive HTA models that reflect the complexity and value of cutting-edge treatments is critical. Austria also needs to increase investment in R&D and digital health technologies to remain competitive and future ready.

Despite these systemic challenges, we continue to push forward. Since 2023, Austria has been established as a core location for clinical research within Johnson & Johnson. Our dedicated team is working to expand the number of studies conducted locally and deepen collaboration with healthcare professionals. In 2024 alone, 37 clinical studies were conducted in Austria – a testament to our commitment to innovation. Globally, J&J invests around $13 billion annually in R&D, representing 23% of our sales.

This is why I’m especially proud of recent milestones, such as the approval of new therapies in oncology and hematology. Today, ten innovative cancer treatments from J&J are approved in Austria, available in over 30 combinations. Thanks to innovative therapies - including those from J&J - people with cancer are living longer and better lives. A standout example is CAR-T-cell immunotherapy, which marks a paradigm shift in the treatment of multiple myeloma – and is already accessible to patients in Austria.

There were three major turning points in my career, which I like to describe as: from animal to human, from Portugal to the world, and from woman to mother. 

My journey began in Portugal, where my passion for animals led me to study veterinary medicine, with a focus on reproduction and obstetrics. However, life took me in a new direction – toward people and purpose – when I joined Johnson & Johnson. That shift marked the beginning of a career centered on human health and impact.

Working across international environments has been transformative. Living and leading in places like Dubai, the UK, Sweden, and now Austria has deepened my cultural awareness, strengthened my resilience, and sharpened my ability to adapt and empathize. A particularly formative experience was spending six months in East Africa – Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania – where I worked on business planning and organizational sustainability. That time reinforced the importance of inclusive leadership and long-term thinking.

Becoming a mother was another profound turning point. It reshaped my perspective, redefined my priorities, and taught me to focus on what truly matters – both personally and professionally. It also helped me become more intentional in how I manage time, energy, and decisions.

Would I make different decisions today? Honestly, no. Each step – even the unexpected ones – has contributed to who I am as a leader and taught me something. I’ve learned to embrace change, stay curious, and trust the journey.