Trends in Differentiating Technologies
“The pharma/biopharma market, already one of the most technologically diverse sectors of the economy, is increasing in complexity as the industry moves to the next generation of drugs,” states David Feldker, SAFC vp. He stresses that the passage of the healthcare reform legislation has many components designed to drive down costs within the system.
“The need for unique technologies will keep increasing, fueled by the reduction in the pharma manufacturing footprint.” The implication is that service providers will be increasingly important in supporting much more complex technology platforms.
Feldker describes an SAFC “virtuous circle” in which technology development moves business development, which moves technology applications, driving customer relations and feeding back as a driver of technology development. “This feedback loop drives our technology portfolio, enabling us to understand new technology developments and leverage our research relationships,” he says.
“We embrace a centers of excellence approach,” Feldker adds, “in which we bundle our technologies to improve our global footprint to meet customer needs. These centers of excellence are not physical structures but rather a coordination of intellectual resources to improve knowledge sharing, innovation management, quality, and systems integration.”
These are tumultuous times for the pharma/biotech industry. With patents expiring, many companies are looking at depleted pipelines. Analysts are saying that big pharma may undergo a radical transformation in the coming years and emerge a totally altered industry. To adapt and flourish in such a troubled era will require imagination and flexibility.