innovation France is attempting to reposition itself as a globally competitive hub for artificial intelligence R&D, with significant state investment aiming to turn Paris into the next Palo Alto. With rapid digitalization and the ever-increasing invasion of artificial intelligence (AI) into all aspects of modern life, France has found itself left…

BIOTECH This week the NHS becomes the first in the world to routinely offer access to breakthrough genomic medicine. Today (1st October 2018) marks a huge stride in ‘precision medicine’ in the UK as the NHS begins to offer gene therapies tailored to individual patients. Hospitals across England have connected to specialist…

Pfizer Pfizer today announced that Dr. Albert Bourla its Chief Operating Officer (COO) will succeed Ian Read as CEO effective January 1, 2019. Ian Read will transition from his current role as Chairman and CEO to Executive Chairman of Pfizer’s Board of Directors. “It’s been an honor to serve as Pfizer’s…

Opioids Today the USA finds itself in the midst of an opioid crisis, claiming 40,000 American lives every year – a comparable death toll to the HIV epidemic at its peak. Aside from the devastating human cost, it imposes a staggering annual economic burden of $504 billion US dollars, around three…

M&A It has been a robust first half in 2018 within the life sciences sector for mergers and acquisition (M&A) and investment activities. Deal-tracking sources demonstrate M&A values witnessed meaningful increases in Q2 2018, with deal volumes in the quarter reminiscent of 2016 and 2017 levels [1]. I and others [234] continue…

Cannabis Following the death penalty handed to Muhammad Lukman, a 29-year old man who was convicted of possessing, processing and distributing medicinal cannabis oil, public outcry has caused Malaysian officials to reconsider the punishment.   Muhammad Lukman was arrested in 2015 for possessing 3.1 litres of cannabis oil, 279 g of compressed cannabis and 1.4 kg of…

regulation The stakes are high, and the outcome is uncertain in one of the largest Pharma M&A deals ever. Takeda’s proposed acquisition of Shire seems to have it all: The combined entity becoming one of the largest global Pharma groups, enabling Takeda to become a truly global operation and allowing Shire’s…

UK The UK country managers of some of the biggest global pharma companies explain what it takes to manage in the UK market.   Erik Nordkamp, Pfizer Erik Nordkamp, the Dutch national serving as managing director of Pfizer UK and the newly-appointed president of the ABPI, likens managing a UK affiliate…

UK For French mid-cap Ipsen, the UK is one of three global hubs, with manufacturing in Wales, large-scale R&D activities near Oxford as well as UK Commercial Operations and global functions including HR, Tech Ops and Commercial Operations in Slough, near London. With ten percent annual growth to reach GBP 80…

UK Christine (Chris) Fox, VP general manager UK and Ireland at Amgen discusses the rationale behind taking on the management of a UK affiliate in challenging times and the specificities of Amgen company culture.   Everyone tells you how complicated the UK market is and that is true – it’s one…

Cannabis Canadian medical cannabis company Tilray’s stock surged by over 77 percent in the first three trading days of last week before dropping dramatically by 47.9 percent to close out the week. The US Drug Enforcement Administration’s decision to allow the company to import cannabis into the USA for medical research…

Innovation “Imagine a world where every single ingredient inside every single pharmaceutical you take is traced from start to finish.” We can all agree that the healthcare system in the United States is in dire need of an overhaul. Technological advances propel us into the 21st Century, but the way data…