Breaking Barriers in Pain Management: The Power of Science and Collaboration

As we close Pain Awareness month, it is important to recognise the significant impact pain has on people’s lives globally. Chronic pain affects over 1.5 billion people worldwide[1], not only limiting their physical capabilities but also diminishing their quality of life and mental well-being. For many, managing pain is a daily battle. At Reckitt, our mission is to protect, heal and nurture, and addressing the pain challenge is at the heart of that mission.

Innovation in Pain Relief: An urgent priority

The evolving nature of pain management whether it is musculoskeletal pain, headaches, or post-surgical discomfort – requires constant innovation. Pain is deeply personal, and what works for one individual may not work for another. This is why, at Reckitt, we focus on pushing the boundaries of science to develop solutions that are effective, safe and tailored to meet the diverse needs of individuals worldwide.

We have a strong track record of delivering breakthrough innovations in pain relief – and these can take many forms. As the Chief R&D Officer, I’m proud to be a part of a team that is relentlessly focused on advancing these kinds of solutions, with scientific rigour at the core of everything we do.

Empowering Patients through Education and Access

However, innovation isn’t only about products – it is about empowering patients with knowledge. We know that many people living with pain are not always aware of the full spectrum of pain management options available to them.

Through collaborations with healthcare professionals, patient advocacy groups, and public health organisations, we are increasing access to credible, science-based information. Working with experts in pain, we published a paper in Pain Reports [2] highlighting the importance of positive, supportive and compassionate approaches to people in pain – and calling for better information and education, tailored to an individual’s needs. Through our commitments to better education and awareness we launched The Pain Coach Service - which has been designed to facilitate pharmacists in managing patients presenting with musculoskeletal pain in their practice. We are providing the tools pharmacists need to support patients, in a holistic way, beyond medication, which is only one part of the solution. They are specifically designed to help pharmacists and patients achieve the most from a Pain Coach Service consultation.

Similarly, through our multi-year ‘See My Pain’ campaign in the UK, Nurofen has highlighted the gender pain gap, with over 50% of women sharing an experience of pain being ignored or dismissed. Now in its second year, the campaign has recently launched ‘PAINPASS’, a tool to enable women to combat the gender bias and have data-centred conversations around their pain and its management with their healthcare providers.

And finally, in collaboration with Imperial College, London we recently published a new study in the BMJ [3] which explores the perceptions of senior medical students on gender and pain. We collaborated with researchers at Imperial, London, to study students from six UK Medical Schools. The students shared their perspectives and stories on gender pain bias from their experience of observing clinical practice in hospitals and GP surgeries.  This important step continues our commitments in ‘See My Pain’. We pledge to make pain in women ‘visible in research and visible in health care.’ This study reflects these commitments, helping educators understand how medical professionals can be socialised into gender pain bias in their formative years at medical school and what we can do to prevent this.

A Call for Collaboration

While science and technology are critical, we recognise that addressing the global pain challenge requires collective action. From policymakers and healthcare providers to scientists and patients, it is vital that we work together to improve pain management outcomes. I’m calling on my peers across the industry to join this effort – whether through partnerships, shared research or educational initiatives.

At Reckitt we’re committed to being at the forefront of this collaborative effort. Every breakthrough we make in pain relief is one step closer to improving the lives of those who suffer silently everyday. As we close Pain Awareness month, let’s remember that pain relief is not just a medical challenge – it is a human imperative. Together we can create a future where pain is no longer a barrier to living fully and freely.

#PainAwarenessMonth # InnovationinHealth #R&DLeadership #PainRelief #ScienceandInnovation #TheScienceInside #WeAreReckitt

[1] A Future Without Chronic Pain: Neuroscience and Clinical Research - PMC (nih.gov)

[2] Slater R, Eccleston C, Williams A, Vincent K, Linde M, Hurley M, Laughey W. Reframing pain: the power of individual and societal factors to enhance pain treatment. Pain Reports. 2024 Jun 1;9(3):e1161.

[3] Brown ME, Costache C, Parker SB, Parekh R, Laughey W, Kumar S. Exploring the perceptions of senior medical students on gender and pain: a qualitative study of the interplay between formal and hidden curricula. BMJ open. 2024 Aug 1;14(8):e080420.