Month: May 2023

PITTSBURGH, May 16, 2023 /3BL Media/ – Viatris Inc. (NASDAQ: VTRS), a global healthcare company, today published its 2022 Sustainability Report showcasing its commitment, impact and progress on building sustainable access to medicine as it continues to make a positive difference across key areas including Access and Global Health, Our People, the Environment and the Community.

“At Viatris, access is fundamental to our mission of empowering people worldwide to live healthier at every stage of life,” said Scott A. Smith, CEO, Viatris. “It begins with our ability to sustainably deliver high-quality medicines and health solutions at scale to people, regardless of geography or circumstance. Our commitment is both practical and aspirational and goes beyond developing, making and distributing medicines. We also work with partners to help support healthy communities, a healthy environment and resilient healthcare systems. The passion and dedication of our global workforce is remarkable and clearly on display in this report, which highlights the progress we are making to build more sustainable access to medicine across the globe.”

Listen above to a preview of Viatris’ 2022 Sustainability report from Lina Andersson, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility for Viatris.

Viatris is a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) and is committed to the Compact’s 10 principles related to human rights, labor, the environment and anti-corruption and supports the Sustainable Development Goals.

The following are some highlights of Viatris’ work and initiatives across its multiple areas of impact in 2022:

Access and Global Health

Supplied medicines to approximately 1 billion patients globally.Provided treatments for approximately 8 million people living with HIV/AIDS, including almost 600,000 children.Provided >250 medicines on the World Health Organization (WHO) Essential Medicines List and 62 products on the WHO Pre-Qualification List.Promoted and strengthened healthcare professional education and training to build more resilient healthcare systems and address the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which account for nearly 75% of global deaths annually. More than 300 million patients were impacted by Viatris’ outreach to healthcare professionals in 2022.

Our People

Conducted our first global Viatris Voice Survey with a participation rate of 89%. The baseline survey marked a milestone in our commitment to engage colleagues by listening to their perspectives on overall engagement; diversity, equity and inclusion; health and wellbeing; and transformation and change.Named one of Forbes’ World’s Best Employers for 2022, ranking in the top 10% of the 800 employers who made the list.

The Environment

Committed to reduce absolute scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions 42% by 2030 from a 2020 base year and further, to reduce absolute Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions covering purchased goods and services, capital goods, fuel and energy related activities, and upstream transportation and distribution 25% within the same timeframe.Received validation and approval of Viatris’ scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). The SBTi classified Viatris’ scope 1 and 2 target ambition and has determined that it is in line with the 1.5°C trajectory.Performed five water risk assessments — four in facilities in India and one in Türkiye.Increased the number of zero-waste landfill locations to a total of 16.

The Community

Donated more than 450 million doses of medicines through our partners around the world and provided a total of $1 million to aid in supporting access to healthcare, food security and water stewardship to four organizations: Direct Relief, World Central Kitchen (WCK), WaterAid and World Food Program USA, partner of the United Nations World Food Programme.Supported communities across the globe, including helping to evacuate and relocate people at the onset of the conflict in Ukraine and provided funds, medical donations and supplies to communities devastated by the earthquakes in parts of Türkiye and Syria in February 2023.

Watch how access takes on deep meaning at Viatris.

“We understand our conduct and actions affect the stakeholders and communities we serve,” said Lara Ramsburg, Head of Corporate Affairs of Viatris. “We are proud to continue our work as a trusted partner of key stakeholders as we help to close gaps to equal access to care, build more resilient healthcare systems, uphold a reliable global supply of medicines, curb climate change and protect the environment.”

Viatris is dedicated to transparent annual reporting on environmental, social and governance matters, continuously working to further enhance its disclosures. Click here to view more information or to read our 2022 Sustainability Report.

About Viatris 
Viatris Inc. (NASDAQ: VTRS) is a global healthcare company empowering people worldwide to live healthier at every stage of life. We provide access to medicines, advance sustainable operations, develop innovative solutions and leverage our collective expertise to connect more people to more products and services through our one-of-a-kind Global Healthcare Gateway®. Formed in November 2020, Viatris brings together scientific, manufacturing and distribution expertise with proven regulatory, medical, and commercial capabilities to deliver high-quality medicines to patients in more than 165 countries and territories. Viatris’ portfolio comprises more than 1,400 approved molecules across a wide range of therapeutic areas, spanning both non-communicable and infectious diseases, including globally recognized brands, complex generic and branded medicines and a variety of over-the-counter consumer products. With more than 38,000 colleagues globally, Viatris is headquartered in the U.S., with global centers in Pittsburgh, Shanghai and Hyderabad, India. Learn more at viatris.com and investor.viatris.com, and connect with us on Twitter at @ViatrisInc, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

Forward-looking Statements 
This press release includes statements that constitute “forward-looking statements.” These statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward looking statements may include statements about our sustainability goals and initiatives. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to: the possibility that the Company may be unable to realize the intended benefits of, or achieve the intended goals or outlooks with respect to, its strategic initiatives; the possibility that the Company may be unable to achieve expected benefits, synergies and operating efficiencies in connection with acquisitions, divestitures, or its global restructuring program, within the expected timeframe or at all; impairment charges or other losses related to the divestiture or sale of businesses or assets; the Company’s failure to achieve expected or targeted future financial and operating performance and results; the potential impact of public health outbreaks, epidemics and pandemics, including the ongoing challenges and uncertainties posed by COVID-19; actions and decisions of healthcare and pharmaceutical regulators; changes in healthcare and pharmaceutical laws and regulations in the U.S. and abroad; any regulatory, legal or other impediments to Viatris’ ability to bring new products to market, including but not limited to “at-risk” launches; Viatris’ or its partners’ ability to develop, manufacture, and commercialize products; the scope, timing and outcome of any ongoing legal proceedings, and the impact of any such proceedings; any significant breach of data security or data privacy or disruptions to our information technology systems; risks associated with international operations; the ability to protect intellectual property and preserve intellectual property rights; changes in third-party relationships; the effect of any changes in Viatris’ or its partners’ customer and supplier relationships and customer purchasing patterns; the impacts of competition; changes in the economic and financial conditions of Viatris or its partners; uncertainties and matters beyond the control of management, including general economic conditions, inflation and exchange rates; failure to execute stock repurchases consistent with current expectations; stock price volatility; and the other risks described in Viatris’ filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Viatris routinely uses its website as a means of disclosing material information to the public in a broad, non-exclusionary manner for purposes of the SEC’s Regulation Fair Disclosure (Reg FD). Viatris undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release other than as required by law.

For further information: MEDIA, +1.724.514.1968, Communications@viatris.com, Jennifer Mauer, Jennifer.Mauer@viatris.com, Matt Klein, Matthew.Klein@viatris.com; INVESTORS, +1.412.707.2866, InvestorRelations@viatris.com; Bill Szablewski, William.Szablewski@viatris.com

Gen Blog

By Amanda Davis | Sr. Manager, CR and Environment

Today, Gen™ received SEAL’s 2023 Environmental Initiatives Award for our Sustainable Home Improvement Program (SHIP). SEAL (Sustainability, Environmental Achievement & Leadership) is a top environmental advocacy organization that honors leadership through its business sustainability and environmental journalism awards while funding research and pursuing environmental impact campaigns.

Our Sustainable Home Improvement Program (SHIP) is a benefit we began offering on Earth Day 2022 that provides our colleagues at Gen all over the world cash incentives for home improvement projects that help reduce environmental impacts. 

SHIP was born out of the understanding that as our team members shifted to remote work, Gen’s environmental footprint was shifting too. We conceived the program to empower employees to bring home the culture of sustainability they’d helped create at work and to help address Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions.  

We received more than 300 project proposals in its first three months since we started SHIP, and nearly 30% of our workforce participated by the first anniversary of the program. Projects range from energy-saving appliance replacements and heating/cooling upgrades to home garden installations, electric vehicle charging, composting, and installing energy-saving LED lightbulbs. We believe there truly is no project too small to have an impact on our collective future, and that is a core tenet of the program.  

Our Social Impact team reviews each proposal and once projects are approved and complete, Gen reimburses costs up to $500. SHIP accepts applications on a rolling basis, and participants are eligible to take advantage of the benefit every calendar year. 

SHIP is one example of how we do our part to protect the planet. In addition to programs that inspire, engage, and educate our workforce (including our environmental employee resource group TERRA), we focus on reducing GHG emissions and operating a low-carbon business, as well as amplifying our environmental impact through nonprofit partnerships.

We are honored by the recognition of our program and to be in such good company of our fellow award winners. 

You can read more about this year’s awards, as well as SEAL Awards’ year-round efforts, here.

Welcoming our Director, Inclusion and Diversity

Desyra Highsmith Holcomb recently joined Quest as Director, Inclusion and Diversity (I&D). This central New Jersey native and Rutgers graduate came to us from RWJBarnabas Health, where she was Director of Diversity and Inclusion, HR Strategic Initiatives. Core to Desyra’s role is working with Quest leaders to establish and implement I&D priorities and goals throughout the business. She leads the ongoing development and implementation of our inclusion and diversity strategies that are critical to our business, in partnership with executive, business, regional, and Human Resources leadership. Desyra serves as a leader in the development of effective strategies, practices, and policies to facilitate a more inclusive environment that benefits our business, colleagues, communities, and all additional stakeholders. In addition, she acts as an advisor to the Quest Inclusion and Diversity Council (QIDC).

Culture
What leaders say and do, the stories we share, and the principles we live by

Talent
How we identify, hire, develop, and listen to top diverse talent

Communities
How we incorporate diverse insights for the benefit of our clients and communities

Fostering our culture

At Quest Diagnostics, I&D is woven into who we are and what we do. We consistently invite new perspectives and embrace new experiences, which helps us to create an inclusive and empathetic workplace where our employees feel like they belong.

In 2020, we developed our CTC framework to help formalize our approach to I&D across the entire talent lifecycle. We continue to leverage and renew our focus on the CTC model to further strengthen Quest’s culture of trust, collaboration, and belonging at all levels.

Creating community

Our 2021 score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2021 Corporate Equality Index—our fifth consecutive year earning the highest possible score— reflects that Quest fosters a safe and supportive workplace for all employees regardless of identity. Core to our approach of nurturing an inclusive and diverse workplace is our commitment to Everyday Equity, a strategy that embodies our commitment to instill equity practices in everything we do at Quest Diagnostics.

Among our key initiatives in 2021, we introduced company-wide trainings on how to recognize and overcome unconscious bias and develop stronger allyship behaviors across the organization, empowering employees to speak up for others and practice inclusive behaviors.

Our I&D learning journey

Employees responded favorably in 2020 to opportunities to talk about how racism and other biases continue to impact our society, leading to the introduction of a new training series in 2021. Introduced by Executive Director and Human Resources Business Partner Ebony David, the series is meant to deepen awareness of implicit and unconscious bias in our work and interpersonal relationships. The first module was designed to develop a common understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion among all employees, encourage self-reflection, and initiate meaningful conversations about how I&D shows up at Quest.

Module 2 spotlighted how understanding and addressing unconscious bias is crucial for supporting a collaborative work environment, building strong relationships, and breaking down barriers and stigmas. This module included a welcome message from 2 of our Employee Business Network leaders, Koko Adeniran, past co-chair of African-American Business Leaders EBN, and Madhuri Korimilli, co-chair of Pan-Asian Leaders EBN.

The third module in the series aimed to unpack what allyship means at Quest, providing real-life scenarios to empower our employees to feel comfortable speaking up for others and practicing inclusive behaviors. This module also featured a personal welcome message from CEO-elect Jim Davis reflecting on how allyship has impacted his professional and personal life.

We released additional resources for leaders to get conversations started within their teams around these topics and offered these modules in Spanish to reach our Quest colleagues in Puerto Rico and Mexico. These trainings are helping to continue to embed I&D as a critical part of our company culture.

Continuing “The Conversation”

In 2020, we engaged with our leaders on how to address racism, biases, and inequities. Part of our approach included “The Conversation,” a 2-hour virtual training for senior leaders, and “Real Talk” for Human Resources leaders. These trainings help improve understanding of how racism and privilege may appear at work, align leadership actions to support a culture of inclusion, and empower leaders to communicate their authentic view of the importance of I&D at Quest.

In 2021, Quest leaders participated in these critical trainings, including ~300 in “The Conversation” and ~80 in “Real Talk.”

The trainings concluded with a call to action outlining several recommendations to keep Quest leaders accountable for continuing this work, stressing that “accountability is the only way to achieve sustainability.”

Read More

Energized by Edison

By Ben Gallagher ENERGIZED by Edison Writer

Spring brings new life to Southern California Edison’s service area, often too close to the company’s infrastructure. That makes nesting season, March 1-Oct. 31, a busy time for Kara Donohue, who oversees SCE’s Avian Protection Program. 

“Ultimately, we all have the same goal in mind, which is to protect wildlife and ensure that we mitigate any potential disturbance to their nesting period,” Donohue said. 

Large nests on electric transmission and distribution equipment can cause power outages and be a threat to the birds. Donohue works with specially trained crews to safely relocate these nests onto a platform attached to the utility pole or another nearby location.

Once the nest’s transition is complete, an on-site biologist observes the nest from a distance to ensure the adult birds return and continue to tend the nest. If it’s simply impossible to relocate a nest or the adults abandon it, SCE’s team then takes the eggs or chicks to a wildlife rehabilitator to raise and release the birds back into the wild. 

“We have built great relationships with wildlife rehabilitators throughout our service area,” said Donohue, noting that SCE’s environmental team also meets regularly with wildlife agencies to share environmental practices and partner on stewardship opportunities. 

The Ojai Raptor Center is one of SCE’s wildlife protection partners. The nonprofit focuses on wildlife rehabilitation and educates local children on the importance of habitat conservation. The group also takes in abandoned eggs or chicks and is a longtime SCE sustainability partner.

Through grant funding from SCE’s parent company, Edison International, the Ojai Raptor Center has held programs for underfunded schools to teach children about conservation and locally native species. The group also used SCE grant funds to build the largest flight pen in California for large birds of prey, which is used to rehabilitate eagles, red-tailed hawks, vultures and other large avian species. 

“SCE has done a lot to help us not only in our work to rehabilitate birds but to educate local children about the importance of conservation,” said Kim Stroud, executive director and founder of the Ojai Raptor Center. “It’s obviously vital to our mission to help our local bird populations, but it’s equally important that we preserve their habitats for future generations.”

SCE has maintained an active Avian Protection Program since 1988. The program ensures that crews and contractors are trained annually to check for nesting birds and wildlife year-round before beginning work. It also guides when and where work is conducted, including establishing a buffer zone in some instances to minimize disruption to nearby nesting species. 

Program guidelines also take into consideration the type of work that is planned near an active nest. In cases where the work is not critical, crews sometimes wait until hatchling birds mature and leave the nest before beginning the project. 

Learn more about the work SCE is doing to protect avian and other wildlife habitats.