The event will take place at the University of Helsinki. The program covers topics such as the role of registry studies in evaluating pharmaceutical products, the opportunities offered by Finnish registry and biobank data, the use of patient experience as part of evidence of effectiveness and AI applications in the early detection and treatment of dementia. 

The conference offers valuable perspectives on how healthcare and society can utilize registry data to support decision making and value-based healthcare. Today, the use of registries and AI is a trend in data-driven management. 

At the conference, Pharmaca’s Senior Consultant Hanna Heloterä will give a presentation “The Journey from Care to Evidence: Tackling Registry Hurdles.” 

Specialized in Real World Evidence (RWE) research, Heloterä emphasizes that this is about a lot more than just simply using data in patient care: 

“Insights from registry studies can be used, for example, to support companies in resource allocation, to meet authorities’ requirements in reimbursement processes, and to aid clinical decision making. I believe that more efficient use of registries also promotes value-based healthcare, which is now particularly relevant given the significant budgetary concerns of the wellbeing services counties,” says Heloterä. 

The program brings together experts, and it provides an opportunity to delve into present themes and network in an inspiring atmosphere. Pharmaca is supporting the conference because it provides fresh insights into current development of RWE across the Nordic countries. 

The event is organized in collaboration with several industry stakeholders and the City of Helsinki, ensuring a diverse program and networking opportunities for participants. 

Attending the conference is free of charge, but seats are limited. Pre-registration is required. 

Conference programme

Day 1

12.00 Registration, networking and exhibition in Agora Hall

13.00 Welcome, background and practicalities. Mia Bengtström Visiting Researcher, University of Helsinki and Associate professor, Åbo Akademi University

Use of RWD and AI in Drug development 

13.10 Value and drivers of clinical trials and RWD studies, Erkki Soini, Chairman of the Board, Health Economist. ESiOR Oy

13.30 AI-Driven Real-World Evidence: Unlocking Early Detection and Drug Repurposing in Dementia, Christian Jonasson, Research Director, NordicRWE

13.50 Fingenious® service and Finnish biobanks offer unique opportunities for biomedical research, Johanna Mäkelä, PhD, Director of Research and Services, FINBB

Use of RWD and AI in Value-based Decision Making 

14.10 Unlocking the Power of RWE and AI for Cardiovascular Health: Insights from Helsinki, Riikka-Leena Leskelä, Research Director, Senior Partner, Nordic Healthcare Group

14.30 A Finnish Nationwide Register Study Describing People With and Without ADHD, Tuire Prami, Oriola

14.50 The Power of Three – A Tripartite Collaboration in Register Research, Katja Nolvi, Associate Director, Quantify Research

15.10 Coffee, exhibition and networking

16.00 Advancing Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD) prevention through health and social data in Finland session by Novartis

• Janne Martikainen, Professor, Data Science and Evidence Generation, ESIOR
• Annukka Kivela, Nordic Evidence Generation and Early Pipeline Lead, Novartis
• Tanja Hakkarainen, Healthcare Partnership Director, a.i, Novartis Finland

16.45 FIREFLY: classifying induced vasomotor symptoms using RWD and natural language processing, Samu Kurki, Strategic Project Lead, Bayer

17.10 Session with Nordic Health Data Access Bodies

Moderator: Nicolas Vaugelade-Baust

Setting the scene: Navigating for health data – into the perfect storm? Michel Silvestri, The Swedish eHealth Agency

Short country overviews and moderated discussion with:

• Michel Silvestri, The Swedish eHealth Agency
• Øystein Kyrre Johansen, Norwegian Institute of Public Health
• Maari Parkkinen, Finnish Social and Health Data Permit Authority Findata

18.10 Thank you for the Day and walking to the City Hall

18.30- 19.30 The Networking Event hosted by the City of Helsinki

Join us for a networking reception at Helsinki City Hall (Pohjoisesplanadi 11–13). Capacity is limited to 220 participants.

Register—and cancel your registration if needed—by 20 January 2026: https://www.lyyti.fi/reg/reception27january. Registration confirmation is sent by email from edustus@hel.fi. Please present personal QR code ticket at entrance.

DAY 2

9.00 Welcome to Day 2, Mia Bengtström and chair Riikka-Leena Leskelä, Research Director, Nordic Healthcare Group

Value-Based Regulatory and HTA Decision-Making

9.05 External Control Arms in Regulatory and HTA Decision-Making, session by MedEngine 

Host: Karin Luttropp, Senior Advisor – Real World Evidence NE Hub, Eli Lilly

• Evolving Guidelines on External Control Arms in Regulatory Decision-Making in Europe; Elina Asikanius, Biostatistician, FIMEA
• The Role of Real-World Evidence in Nordic Health Technology Assessment; Saku Torvinen, Market Access Director, MedEngine
• Methodological Approaches to Optimize Clinical Trials with External Control Arms; Maria Guzman-Castillo, Senior Data Scientist, MedEngine

10.05 Transportability and External Validity: Approaches to Generalizing Evidence, Iiro Toppila Data Analysis Lead, Medaffcon

10.30 Real-world data enabling VBHC transformation at HUS Psychiatry session by HUS, University of Helsinki, Johnson & Johnson

• Grigori Joffe, MD, PhD, Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Helsinki University Hospital (HUS)
• Petri Näätänen, Development Manager, Department of Psychiatry, Helsinki University Hospital (HUS)
• Paulus Torkki, DSc, Associate professor, University of Helsinki, Department of Public Health
• Irene Eriksson, PhD, VBHC Partnership Lead EMEA, Johnson & Johnson

11.10 Coffee, light lunch, networking Agora Exhibition Hall

11.50 Value of Patient Experience Data When Addressing Nordic Stakeholders’ Needs session by IQVIA

• James Turnbull, Senior Principal, Patient Centered Solutions, IQVIA
• Daniel Eek, Medical Evidence Scientific Lead, AstraZeneca
• Frida Bayard, Sr. RWE Consultant, IQVIA

12.20 Strengthening Confidence in RWE for Assisted Reproductive Technology: Merck KGaA’s Commitment to Scientific Rigor, Lise Braathen-Pettersen, Global Medical Director Fertility, Merck Healthcare

12.45 Transforming Patient Pathways: AI-Driven Risk Prediction and Cross-Sector Optimization in Cardiovascular Care, Jesper Eriksen, Head of Data Analytics, Healthcare Nordics, IQVIA

13.05 The Journey from Care to Evidence: Tackling Registry Hurdles, Hanna Heloterä, Senior Consultant, Pharmaca Health Intelligence Oy

13.25 Coffee and networking Agora Exhibition Hall

14.10 Next-Generation Anonymization: Securing Nordic RWD for Cross-Border AI & RWE Innovation, Tuomo Pentikäinen, CEO of VEIL.AI

14.30 Bright Future for the use of RWE and AI in the Nordic Region for the best of the Patients, Society and Economy: Visionary moderated discussion on using the excellent RWD assets in the Nordic Region to improve Drug development, Value-based Decision Making and Healthcare

Moderator: Lisse-Lotte Hermansson, Managing Director at Medaffcon AB Sweden

Setting the scene: Olli Kallioniemi, Research Director at the Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM) presenting findings from Sitra’s project A plan for the Finnish Health Data Space (FHDS) in the AI-era.

• Elina Asikanius, Biostatistician, Fimea
• Janne Martikainen, Professor, UEF/ Esior
• Samu Kurki, Strategic Project Lead | Clinical Data Scientist, Bayer Global R&D
• Paavo Raittinen, Head of Commercial Insights and Data, Oriola
• Christian Jonasson, Research Director and Co-Founder at NordicRWE

15.20-15.30 Next steps. Thank you for participating and funding, Mia Bengtström