Good / Women's Health

Women's Health

We’re committed to creating an inclusive and supportive healthcare environment for all women.

Medical research has traditionally focused on broad populations, sometimes missing key differences that impact health outcomes for women. In addition, the FDA excluded women from early stage clinical studies from 1977-1993¹, resulting in significant gaps in the data used to determine important safety and dosing information for medicines. And still today, women’s health remains largely underfunded and under-researched, leading to misunderstanding, misdiagnosis and delays in treatment.

In addition to healthcare disparities, women often prioritize the health needs of others over their own. Women make up 79% of the U.S. healthcare workforce², are usually the healthcare decision makers for their families³ and represent 61% of caregivers in the U.S.⁴ In the midst of giving so much, their own health can suffer.⁵

Together with Roche, we’re focused on three key areas to deliver better health outcomes for women:

Embedding women in our R&D: by gathering gender insights in research and clinical development to understand why diseases present differently in women and how to tailor treatment accordingly

Advancing women-centric care models: by partnering across global health systems, governments, nonprofits and patient associations to design and deliver care with women in mind

Caring for our colleagues: by innovating in how we make healthcare convenient and accessible to women at work through our leading benefits, services and support

Click on each image below to hear our leaders and employees explain examples of this work.

Elevating Women’s Healthcare Around the World

We received the 2024 HBA ACE Aspire Award for our efforts to reshape health systems and advance solutions in women’s health around the world. Roche Pharma CEO Teresa Graham and Genentech CEO Ashley Magargee explain more.
Moving Beyond Bikini Medicine

Tune in to The Medical Alley Podcast to hear how we’re championing women’s health in the workplace and advocating for women-centric care beyond “bikini medicine” to increase our understanding of conditions that present predominantly and differently in women.
Making Care Accessible to Women at Work

We’re leading the charge in how employers can support women in the workplace. From mobile mammograms and preventative care days on campus to family planning, pregnancy, onsite childcare centers, and even menopause support, our innovative benefits make it convenient to access care.

Hear how our employees inspired us to destigmatize menopause in the workplace:

Unmet Needs in Women’s Health

Heart Disease

leading cause of death of women worldwide⁶

Stroke

kills more women than breast cancer per year⁶

Breast cancer

most common cancer in people in the US⁷

Lung Cancer

leading cause of cancer deaths in women⁸

Multiple Sclerosis

3x more common in women⁹

Age Related Macular Degeneration

2 out of 3 people diagnosed are women¹⁰

At Roche and Genentech, our portfolio of innovative medicines and diagnostics and our leading benefits for employees have the potential to help address these significant unmet needs in women’s health. But we know we can’t do it alone. We’re excited to engage in more conversations with healthcare industry stakeholders, governments, advocacy organizations and others to help close the gaps in women’s health. Because when women thrive, we all thrive.

Our Work in Action

Learn more about our efforts to improve healthcare for women.

Closing Gaps in Women’s Health

Roche’s global XProject initiative is driving better health outcomes for women through partnerships, funding and action.
Moving Beyond Bikini Medicine

Hear how we’re championing women's health in the workplace and advocating to move beyond the limited approach of “bikini medicine.”
Breaking the Silence on Menopause

We’re removing barriers to care for our employees and their families with our comprehensive menopause benefit.
Roche’s Commitment to Multiple Sclerosis and Motherhood

Rosetta speaks to how advancements in MS research are supporting family planning.
Understanding How Multiple Sclerosis Affects Women

During Women’s Health Month, we spoke with influential voices from the multiple sclerosis community about their personal experiences navigating life with a chronic condition.
Building A Groundbreaking Clinical Trial Movement

Genentech grantee TOUCH is educating Black women, who are underrepresented in research, on the benefits of clinical studies.