Enabling Oncology-Nephrology Breakthroughs Through Specialist Insight

Client

Global pharmaceutical innovator focused on oncology and nephrology

Service

Clinical insights

Sector

Pharmaceuticals & Biopharma

Coverage

United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, Spain

Managing complex diseases like Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) in renal-compromised patients presents a unique clinical challenge - one that a leading international pharmaceutical company aimed to address through early-stage innovation. As part of their drug development research, the client partnered with us to generate deep clinical insights from nephrologists and kidney transplant surgeons actively managing this intersection of care. The objective was to evaluate a targeted treatment profile and shape future development based on real-world therapy data and evidence-based care practices.

The challenge

Treating TNBC in patients with kidney conditions—particularly those undergoing transplant—remains underexplored in current oncology and nephrology protocols, making it a prime example of a niche healthcare segment. Our client needed to validate their early-stage therapeutic concept with those directly involved in managing these dual-risk patient populations. Specifically, they aimed to assess how specialists approach diagnosis and treatment in this space, and whether their proposed therapy could fit safely and effectively into care pathways already marked by nephrotoxicity risk, transplant patient care concerns, and diagnostic complexity. This called for cross-specialty analysis that could provide actionable insights into clinical decision drivers and help support market positioning for new treatments.

What we did

To capture these nuanced insights, we conducted a multi-country clinical feedback study involving 45 nephrologists and transplant surgeons across six markets. Each clinician had a minimum of three years of experience managing adult patients, including those navigating TNBC complications alongside kidney disease. Healthcare professional interviews were held virtually via Civicom and Zoom, moderated by native speakers to ensure culturally contextual responses. Each 60-minute session explored diagnostic behaviors, treatment concerns, safety considerations, and current cancer care gaps in co-managed care. The study offered critical medical opinion in niche therapy areas and tested the feasibility of the proposed therapy within complex patient pathway - serving as a foundation for specialty-specific product validation and healthcare product feasibility research.

The impact of the research

This study surfaced critical insights at the heart of oncology-nephrology care integration. Physicians reported significant diagnostic overlap between renal complications and TNBC symptoms, along with the ever-present concern of nephrotoxicity in cancer treatment. Importantly, many expressed the need for clearer clinical guidance, safer treatment options, and ongoing education to help manage such high-risk patients. These insights allowed the client to validate the therapy’s relevance in real-world settings, refine their clinical trial design, and sharpen their global market access strategy. It also positioned nephrologists as key stakeholders in shaping oncology drug insights for renal-compromised populations, helping bridge a vital gap in the cancer care continuum. Ultimately, the research delivered actionable, specialist-driven insight to inform pipeline planning, risk mitigation in treatment plans, and broader healthcare strategy development for complex, underserved patient groups.

Drive smarter therapy development with insights that bridge oncology and nephrology -contact us to strengthen your pipeline with real-world specialist input.