Conclusion Despite progress in recent decades, critical gaps remain in research funding, clinical trial representation and data disaggregation, leaving women underserved across the globe. To bridge these gaps, the proposed policies can drive innovation and ensure that research truly represents the diverse experiences of women around the world. The inclusion of diverse populations – particularly women of colour and post-menopausal women, as well as pregnant and lactating women – is not just an ethical imperative but a scientific necessity. Without robust representation, practitioners will continue to operate in a system where women experience higher rates of misdiagnosis, delayed treatments and serious or even fatal adverse reactions due to data derived primarily from clinical trials on men. Addressing these disparities requires a transformation in clinical research. The urgency of the need for change has never been greater, nor has the opportunity. Implementing the proposed policies to drive innovation in women’s health, expand the inclusion of women in clinical trials, enhance data disaggregation, design clinical trials to account for sex-based physiological differences and update clinical guidelines to provide better insights on leaflets and packaging will provide a strong starting point to close the knowledge gaps that have long hindered progress, creating an opportunity to stimulate a new era of medical advances. Real transformation, however, necessitates more than just policy requirements. Sustained collaboration among governments, regulatory bodies, industry leaders, funders, research institutions, patient groups and others will be needed for long-term success. The World Economic Forum’s Global Alliance for Women’s Health aims to unite stakeholders around a common vision of robust, safe and inclusive science and is committed to encouraging the structural changes needed to progress clinical research, ensuring that innovation meets women’s diverse needs, preferences and lifestyles. The policies outlined in this paper mark an essential step towards reshaping the future of women’s health research. When focusing on women’s health, the benefits ripple throughout communities, economies and future generations. Bold new healthcare policies, collaborative action and a focus on developing safe and effective treatments can create lasting change that transforms women’s health and creates a stronger and more vibrant global future for all.Achieving meaningful transformation in women’s health requires a fundamental shift in how clinical research policies address the unique considerations of physiology. Prescription for Change: Policy Recommendations for Women’s Health Research 22

Prescription for Change 2025