How do we ensure that innovative therapies become available to patients faster, smarter and affordable? During the FAST event 2025, we will bring together innovators, policymakers, scientists, patient organisations and other key players to jointly address this question.

📅 Tuesday, November 4, 2025
📍 Spoorwegmuseum (Railway museum), Utrecht
🕘 09:30 – 17:00 hours
🎫 Free participation | Dutch-speaking

Innovation and affordability within therapy development
The FAST event is all about accelerating therapy development in a socially responsible way. We focus on solutions to bottlenecks in the system, encourage collaboration across disciplines and build a strong network around innovation and sustainable access to therapies.
Whether you work in industry, are involved in policy, conduct research or advocate for patients: this event offers new insights, inspiring encounters and concrete opportunities for collaboration.

What to expect

• Stimulating speakers and interactive sessions
• Networking opportunities with stakeholders from across the field
• An afternoon programme in which hubs and spearheads are given room for deepening and co-creation
• And all this in the unique setting of the Railway Museum, easily accessible by train and a place where movement is key.
• FAST cordially invites you to think, build and move with us towards a future where innovation and affordability go hand in hand.

Programme overview

09:30 – 10:10 | Walk-in & Reception
Reception with coffee and tea. Time for first meetings.
09:50 Arrival train from Utrecht CS to the Railway Museum

Plenary FAST Programme

10:10 – 10:30 | Welcome
Conny Helder, board chair FAST, former minister
Impact of FAST on innovation & affordability

In conversation with Hans Schikan, Top Team member of Topsector Life Sciences & Health, on the need to connect innovation and affordability, and together they preview the rest of the programme.

10:30 – 11:00 | Innovative Therapy Development: How do we create space for innovation?
Keynote: Prof Dr Frank Luyten, Professor of Rheumatology & Scientific Director, RegMed XB

Panel discussion:
Led by Paul Korte, FAST board member
Focus on collaboration between companies, science and patients. How can we jointly remove barriers to innovation?

Panel members:
Prof. Dr. Hanneke Schuitemaker, Professor of Virology A’dam umc, Valneva
Prof. Dr. Michiel Schreuder, Paediatric Nephrologist, Radboudumc / Programme Leader KidNIE
Dr. Sanne van Rijn, Patient Representative DCAA

11:00 – 11:30 | Interactive Coffee Moment
Explore inspiring initiatives and meet points of contact from, among others:
🔍 REMEDi4all
🔍 InFECT-NL
🔍 RARE-NL
🔍 EATRIS
🔍 FAST Forum
🔍 INVOLV

11:30 – 11:50 | Affordability: Incentives and paradoxes in the system
Keynote: Dr Anja Schiel, Senior Advisor, Norwegian Medicines Authority

11:50 – 12:30 | Sustainable Access to Innovative Therapies
Keynote: Prof Dr Carla Hollak, internist for hereditary metabolic diseases at Amsterdam UMC and professor of Medicines and Society

Panel discussion:
What are appropriate access models for new therapies, such as for dementia? What ethical and economic considerations play a role in patient access to innovative therapies?

Panel members:
Thomas Calis, Managing Director, Lucane Pharma & chair Stichting Comité Weesgeneesmiddelen
Prof. Dr. Wiesje van der Flier, Scientific Director, Alzheimer Nederland
Dr. Lonneke Timmers, Advisor, Dutch Healthcare Institute, Secretary, WAR
Dirk van Asseldonk, Director, Lenticure (subsidiary of Erasmus MC)
Anke Vervoord, Managing Director, NFK

12:30 – 13:30 | Lunch & Walk-in Afternoon Programme Hubs & spearheads
Meet speakers, partners and colleagues over a varied lunch.

13:30 – 15:00 | Afternoon Programme Hubs & spearheads
In-depth working sessions organised around FAST’s key spearheads and hubs.

🔍 RARE-NL session
🔍 ATMP-NL session
🔍 InFECT-NL session
🔍 Radiopharmaceuticals session

15:00 – 16:00 | Plenary closing

16:00 – 17:00 | Networking drinks
End the day with informal conversations and new connections.

16:50 Departure train to Utrecht central station

Location
The Railway Museum is (of course) easily accessible by public transport. In fact, a train from Utrecht Central Station stops at the museum every hour! The museum also has ample parking facilities right outside the door. For more information on accessibility, check here.

FAST cordially invites you on Tuesday 4 November 2025 to think, build and move with us towards a future where innovation and affordability go hand in hand.