Women's health

Women are the backbone of most family and society ecosystems. They are a critical part of healthcare decision-making for themselves and their loved ones, yet they often face significant barriers to healthcare access and quality treatment.

Social and economic disadvantages, gender bias, and discrimination negatively impact women’s health outcomes.¹ Here are some of the major health conditions and diseases that women face worldwide:

Reproductive and Sexual Health

• Around 1 in 6 couples struggle with infertility worldwide²
• Gestational diabetes develops in around 14.7% of pregnancies globally³
• Preeclampsia, a serious complication which can lead to death, affects about 10% of pregnancies globally⁴
• Around 8-13% of women worldwide suffer from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal disorder affecting ovulation and causing other symptoms⁵
• Curable sexually transmitted infections such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis are major causes of pelvic inflammatory disease, adverse birth outcomes, and infertility in women⁶

Women’s cancers

• In 2020, there were an estimated 2.3 million cases and 685,000 deaths from breast cancer⁶
• In 2020, there were 417,000 new cases of Endometrial cancer⁷
• In 2020, there were an estimated 604,00 new cases and 342,000 deaths from cervical cancer⁸
• In 2020, ovarian cancer caused 239,000 deaths and there were 295,000 new cases⁹

Infectious diseases

• In 2021 there were 37.7 million people living with HIV globally, with women accounting for half of all new infections among adults¹⁰
• Globally, around 257 million people are living with chronic infection of Hepatitis B and mother-to-child transmission is a major route of infection¹¹
• Hepatitis E is a major concern in many developing countries and can cause significant complications for pregnant women¹²
• Congenital toxoplasmosis is a parasitic infection that can be passed from mother to child during pregnancy, potentially causing blindness and disability in infants¹³
• Viral infection from Zika is a major concern in some regions of the world where the virus can cause microcephaly in infants¹⁴

Bone health

• Globally osteoporosis impacts over 200 million women¹⁵

At Roche, we are committed to bringing more innovations in women’s health diagnostics, regardless of where a woman lives or where she is from. Every woman deserves to have full control over her health, sexual and reproductive choices and should feel empowered to take an active and informed role in her own wellness, from prevention through to treatment.

Today, women are faced with inequities in treatment and care due in large part to historically insufficient research in the area of women’s health. Recognizing the critical need to overcome this disparity, Roche launched XProject, an ongoing initiative to drive meaningful change in women’s health. With the support and collaboration of key partners, Roche is conducting new research to close the health data gender gap and create a future where women have an equal opportunity to access the right information, the right diagnosis, and the right treatment.

X represents the female chromosome that warrants more investigation in order for us to achieve our goal to make a difference for the health of women. We all have an opportunity to be better.

Currently, we work with individuals, organizations, industry, government and more to identify and remove barriers in healthcare systems so that every woman can fully and equitably access care, no matter where they are in the world.

Offering medical value starts with proper clinical study enrollment, addressing patient stories of inequity, and understanding where we can best achieve our goals.

Note that we use the terms “woman” and “women” referring to people who biologically have two x chromosomes (xx). However, inclusivity is at the core of XProject and we recognize that these individuals may not all identify as female. We respect that gender identities are diverse and are striving for an equitable health system for all.

For over 125 years, Roche has been a leading force in healthcare. Driven by a deep understanding of science and medicine, we continue to pioneer innovation to shape a healthier tomorrow. 

• Unifying diagnostics and pharma: Under one roof, we combine the power of diagnostics and pharmaceuticals to identify the right issue with the targeted solutions from pharmaceuticals. This ensures patients receive the right treatment, at the right time.
• Global reach, local impact: With a presence in over 150 countries, our vast network allows us to leverage innovation broadly and rapidly to deliver life-saving solutions to patients worldwide
• Investing in what matters: We prioritize research and development (R&D) with R&D investment exceeding CHF 13.2 billion in 2023¹⁸
• Empowering people: Our innovations help clinicians to make the right choice at the right time, empower patients to have greater insights into their health and well-being, and allow payers and policymakers to utilize resources efficiently