Dear reader

You might have noticed that you are receiving this edition of Visible later than usual. That's because we have given our magazine a makeover – not only visually, by giving it a fresh, more reader-friendly layout, but also in terms of content. Going forwards, each edition will have a dedicated topic and there will be input from people outside Swissmedic. Discussions with, and contributions by, medical practitioners and professionals working in science and regulation will illustrate the relevance of our work in a broader context, firstly from a patient safety perspective and secondly in terms of providing rapid access to new, innovative therapeutic products. In both these areas, Swissmedic makes a crucial contribution to two mainstays of our high-calibre healthcare system. Another change is that Visible will only be appearing once a year for the time being. Our core business plus ongoing digital transformation projects are currently tying up a lot of our staff resources.

The focal topic of this issue is gender medicine. Bern oncologist Dr Berna Özdemir explains in an interview why male bodies must no longer be regarded as the medical norm for diagnosis and treatment. Annette Magnin from swissethics tells us why clinical studies can only be safe and effective if they appropriately reflect the diversity of the population. This is where the Swissmedic perspective comes in. Why is it important to take account of gender-specific differences in medicinal product development and authorisation, and what can be done to ensure regulatory implementation?

In addition, you can find out how Swissmedic is using simplified procedures and reduced fees to encourage clinical studies, how horizon scanning helps identify trends and risks at an early stage and how we are helping to make new medicines available in Switzerland faster by working with our partners to close the submission gap.

I hope you enjoy reading this issue and look forward to receiving your feedback!

Dr Raimund Bruhin