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Global Susanne Schaffert’s over 20-year stint at Novartis culminated with her presidency of the Swiss giant’s global oncology division, but when the company underwent a major restructure in 2022, she found herself out of a job.  Now, after joining the boards of several biotechs, including Galapagos, Schaffert returns to big pharma,…

France France is the third most significant clinical research destination in Europe, participating in 50 percent of the trials initiated across the continent. While favourable government policies and unique strengths such as the National Health Data System contribute to France’s competitiveness, obstacles to further growth remain. In conversation with PharmaBoardroom, Hubert…

India Under the leadership of Ajay Tandon and the foundational work of Dr Kiran Marthak, Indian firm Veeda Clinical Research has strategically expanded its capabilities and global footprint. The company has transitioned from focusing primarily on clinical research to incorporating preclinical services through the acquisition of Bioneeds, aiming to offer end-to-end…

Portugal After achieving the highest sales figures in the affiliate’s history in 2023, general manager of Teva Pharmaceuticals Portugal Marta Gonzalez Casal outlines the restructuring efforts that have taken place in Portugal to strengthen its commercial operations. She also reviews the company’s shift towards innovation and the challenges of Teva’s hospital…

France Hubert Mechin, president of AFCROs, the association that groups clinical research organisations in France, details the organisation’s efforts to help its members stay abreast of changes in the European regulatory environment and its creation of a clinical research code of conduct. He discusses France’s competitive edge in clinical trials based…

Portugal While not a major player in clinical trials at the European level, Portugal has untapped potential in this field, leveraging a first pioneering centre in Braga, the country’s strong scientific community, a growing openness to collaboration with industry, and access to a European patient database. Considering the remarkable progress that…

USA In late 2023, The Wall Street Journal published the article Generic Drugs Should Be Cheap, but Insurers Are Charging Thousands of Dollars for Them. This article examined interactions between patient health insurance prescription benefits, pharmacies, and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), and their collective impact on the prices that patients pay for their prescription…

Africa Writing in the February 2024 edition of the DIA Global Forum magazine, Verena Pfaffinger and Ilona Baraniak-Lang of PharmaLex examine how the drug shortages seen in the global south during and after the COVID-19 pandemic can best be overcome through the adoption of decentralised manufacturing.   The COVID-19 pandemic exposed…

India Sampada Gosavi explains how she has led a transformation of Astellas’ operations in India to launch innovative products in oncology and women’s health, coupled with a commitment to building internal capabilities. With a ‘hypergrowth phase’ anticipated, Astellas will nevertheless need to continue to navigate India’s regulatory environment and engage in…

India Girisan Kariangal reflects on Menarini’s journey from a primarily CSO organization to a robust branded business in India, emphasizing strategic partnerships, acquisitions, and a decisive shift towards dermatology. He outlines how Menarini positions itself as a leader in dermatology by treating dermo-cosmetics with the same rigour as pharmaceuticals and continuously…

Global As head of digital transformation at Bayer, Saskia Steinacker is well placed to unpack the hype around artificial intelligence in healthcare. In a wide-ranging interview, she explains how AI is already transforming the company’s internal processes and external impact, why stakeholders must not lose sight of solving real-world problems in…

India Terumo India’s Shishir Agarwal outlines the company’s strategic roadmap and growth trajectory in India, highlighting the organization’s focus on understanding the healthcare landscape, enhancing organizational capabilities, and diversifying the product portfolio. This approach has enabled Terumo to navigate the competitive landscape successfully and achieve substantial market share, even amidst challenges…