SPECIAL REPORT: State of the Pharmaceutical Industry, 2008

What will pharmaceutical management see when it looks in the mirror in 2008? Amid the pressures and shortcomings of recent industry performance, will management recognize and act upon the opportunities that already exist? Adhering to the status quo is not propelling this industry forward; only real change can accomplish that goal. What should the industry do to improve its performance and outlook? We asked industry leaders-both within and outside of Decision Resources-to offer their opinions on the issues that will both concern and excite the pharmaceutical industry in 2008. Herein you will find their expert commentary, their recommendations, and a Spectrum Scorecard assessing the actions the industry should consider going forward.

Get the Answers You Need to Shape Your Strategy:

• Pharmaceutical margins will come under extreme pressures in 2008 and beyond. What major challenges are critically important for the industry to solve? What are potentially the best solutions to address these challenges?
• Pharma is losing ground in the supply and control of information about drugs. What new concepts in information delivery are developing? How has the control of personalized information delivery gripped stakeholders, and how are they using this approach to their advantage?
• Globalization of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries in an exciting prospect for change. Why is globalization a double-edged sword? Why will it cost some companies their livelihood and independence, and what implications does this have for Western companies?

Scope:

• Opinions from industry experts and thought leaders: expert commentary and analysis from four internal experts including Decision Resources' president Sarah Fuller and ten external industry consultants and professionals.
• The pharmaceutical Haves and Have-Nots: dwindling pipelines, looming patent expiries, and generics challenges; companies' coping strategies; and potential changes for former market leaders.
• Communicating information on drugs and health care-the control of information is all-powerful: personalized information, social networking, balanced drug information, evidence-based medicine, counter-detailing.
• Globalization: mature (G7) versus emerging (E7) pharmaceutical markets; offshoring and outsourcing to China versus India; a survey of executives at 40 companies in China and India; the impact of Western multinational companies doing business abroad; contract research organization activities; and Japan's evolving marketplace.
• Pharmaceutical pricing models: industry pressures and traditional defenses; customer demands for value-for-money, cost-effectiveness models, and evidence-based medicine; what can be gained if companies and health technology assessment agencies work together; a case study of Alzheimer's drug HTAs; lessons to be learned and new approaches to take.
• Convergence: coalescing technologies and opportunities point to the need to develop new industry business models; human genome sequencing, biomarkers, and targeted therapies; biotech as the innovation engine for pharma; disruptive technology; the need for a clear-cut personalized medicine business model.