January 6th, 2012
Forbes highlighted Bristol-Myers Squibb as the best pharma company for 2011 based on it 32% increase in share price. The article notes that BMS managed a few strong product launches including Eliquis, to reduce blood clotting.
The article also noted that 2 biotech companies have even stronger increases in share price (70%) Alexion and Biogen.
Some experts have begun to call for a rebound in pharma starting this year (2012),claiming that all the consolidation, shrinking, outsourcing/alliances and refocusing on narrower disease areas is finally going to payoff in better performance.
A stronger biopharma industry may then be able to address the persistant drug shortages (especially in oncology). This may take some coordination with healthcare companies as well as the government. The best outcome for 2012 will be for all the players to recognize the inefficiencies and weaknesses in healthcare in the United States and make strong progress toward fixing them. In an election year, this is the time to push for change and a strong, efficient healthcare system for America.
Here is the link to the Forbes article:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/matthewherper/2011/12/26/the-best-big-drug-company-of-2011/
Tags: Alexion, Biogen, BioPharma Pulse, Biotech Industry, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Candice Hughes, Forbes, healthcare, Hughes BioPharma Advisers, pharmaceutical industry, pharmaceutical industry trends, strategy, trend forecasting, trends
Posted in BioPharma Trends, Forecast, Healthcare, pharmaceutical industry | No Comments »
December 17th, 2011
Looking forward to seeing what happens with the proposed Cornell technology campus. Great news that they have received a $350 million dollar donation to launch the campus. This is a strong step forward in improving technology innovation in the New York City region.
Below is the link to learn more about the proposed campus:
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/cornell-gets-350m-proposed-nyc-science-campus-233901968.html
Tags: academic, Biotech Industry, Candice Hughes, donations, Hughes BioPharma Advisers, innovation, New York City, pharmaceutical industry trends, technology hub
Posted in Biotech Industry, Innovation | No Comments »
November 22nd, 2011
The cost of bringing a new drug to market is now up to a billion US dollars. Returns on R & D for new drugs have fallen to 8.4% according to Deloitte LLP. And only an average of 18 drugs per company this year got to final testing/FDA review phases. So despite the substantial emphasis on innovation in the industry, the number of new products is continuing to fall. Read more at: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-21/drugmakers-returns-on-research-fall-as-pipeline-projects-fail.html#
It is clear that the blockbuster era has ended and the pharmaceutical industry is searching for a new product development and even business models. The general trend has been to outsource R & D in hopes of lowering costs and improving innovation. While costs may be down, the innovation portion seems to continue to lag. Meanwhile, pharma companies have substantial cash reserves and many are putting them to use buying back stock shares. While this financial strategy may boost stock prices in the short term, it will not improve innovation since it reduces funds for capital investments and could put the companies at long term risk from innovative competitors.
Overall, the regulatory environment continues to favor large companies that can afford the high cost for product approval. However, the innovation end of the drug development equation calls out for nimble, innovative companies that are willing to take risks to succeed with new products.
Patients and health care providers have been squeezed in the middle as the low volume or low profit products have been dropped from production entirely causing substantial product shortages, especially in the oncology area.
What is sorely needed are discussions between industry, government, and healthcare provider groups to actively shape a new path for a fit-for-the times business model that will reward innovation sufficiently while protecting patient safety adequately. Without active, reasoned choices and decisions, the decisions will be imposed by global economic and environmental pressures. The result is not likely to be one considered ideal by any stakeholder.
Tags: Biotech Industry, Candice Hughes, drug approvals, drug shortages, Hughes BioPharma Advisers, pharmaceutical industry, pharmaceutical industry trends, pharmaceutical insights, pharmaceutical sales, strategy, trend analysis, trend forecasting, trends
Posted in BioPharma Trends, Biotech Industry, Innovation, pharmaceutical industry | No Comments »
July 9th, 2011
If you own a small business (consulting, writing, or any other small business, particularly service businesses) you will find tools for how to inexpensively market your business and boost revenue with Dr. Hughes’ recently published book: Small Business Rocket Fuel: Marketing Tools to Boost Revenue. The book is now available on Amazon (link below) and will shortly be available on Barnes and Noble as well.
Dr. Hughes developed the book from a presentation given in 2008 at the American Medical Writer’s Association. However, the book substantially expands on the talk, widening suggestions to be applicable to any small business. The book contains 3 totally new worksheets as well as new examples of successful and failed marketing. To develop the book, Dr. Hughes drew from over ten years of experience marketing products and a division of a corporation plus her own six years of experience in running a consulting company. All this hands-on experience was deepened by her past year of MBA training (including marketing) plus earlier MBA marketing training.
If you just want to take a moment out of a busy work day for some light humor, take a look at Dr. Hughes recent video. Best of all, enjoy the summer!
http://youtu.be/L0SdAWmekds
http://www.amazon.com/Small-Business-Rocket-Fuel-ebook/dp/B005AXY472/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1310220277&sr=1-1
Tags: Candice Hughes, Marketing, marketing tools, medical writing trends, profit, revenue, small business
Posted in About Hughes BioPharma, Marketing, Medical Writing | No Comments »
July 1st, 2011
Innovation has become a huge buzzword over the past few years. Hughes BioPharma has been focused on innovation since it’s founding in 2005 and so has been closely following the various factions. It turns out that there is no single definition of innovation- like beauty, innovation lies in the eye of the beholder. Is innovation something that is truly unique, never seen before? Is it a new twist on something already in frequent use? Is it anything a bit different than current products as long as it makes money? If something is totally unique, but doesn’t result in a salable product is it no longer innovation?
I’ve heard all of the above argued as defining innovation- new, not totally new, must make money, and many other variations.
The one thing everyone does agree on is that innovation is necessary for successful companies competing in today’s tough marketplace.
In fact, innovation doesn’t just apply to products any more. To be truly successful, we have to become innovative even about the way we think about and engage in innovation itself. Nothing can be sacred. The companies that will make it to the top in the new economic climate will be unafraid to question, probe, test and create. Along with creation comes destruction and likely even some waste. Maybe we will even have to rethink efficiency.
For another interesting comment on innovation look at this link: http://www.fiercebiotech.com/story/live-bio-real-innovation-look-beyond-science/2011-06-30
Tags: Biotech Industry, biotechnology, Candice Hughes, Hughes BioPharma Advisers, innovation, pharmaceutical industry, pharmaceutical industry trends
Posted in BioPharma Trends, Biotech Industry, Innovation | No Comments »
December 29th, 2010
In the Summer/Fall 2009 BioPharma Pulse (TM) issue, HBP covered the information gathering/open comment phase of the FDA discussion on social media use by the pharmaceutical industry. The FDA recently announced that its guidance would be delayed into early 2011 or even longer. Some industry executives have complained that even once the guidance is issued, they believe the wording will leave gaps making interpretation of the guidance challenging. This situation leaves companies to continue to navigate the turbulent waters of social media without an official compass. If they remain aloof, consumers will view them as out of touch with their needs. Leading edge companies are likely to continue strategic and carefully considered communications. Stay tuned to BioPharma Pulse and PharmaFuture for more on social media in the pharma/biotech industries.
Wishing all a prosperous New Year!
Hughes BioPharma Team
Tags: BioPharma Pulse, Candice Hughes, Hughes BioPharma Advisers, Marketing, pharmaceutical industry, pharmaceutical industry trends, Regulatory
Posted in BioPharma Trends, Marketing, pharmaceutical industry, Regulatory | No Comments »
November 27th, 2010
After years of hard research, you or your company may be ready to announce your results through abstracts at prestigious association conferences or to publish more advanced findings in a well-regarded journal article. With many therapeutic areas being covered by a dozen or more journals and often several associations, there are a lot of choices. To take the guesswork out of publishing, Hughes BioPharma has developed unique mathmatical model that accounts for key factors relevant to publication planning. Additionally, this model is customizable by therapeutic area and specific topics within an area. Don’t choose your publication avenues by hunches. Base your plan on facts. Call or e-mail Hughes BioPharma today for your Targeted Publication Plan (TM) [admin at hughesbiopharma.com].
Tags: Candice Hughes, Hughes BioPharma Advisers, publication planning, publications
Posted in About Hughes BioPharma, Publications | No Comments »
November 24th, 2010
Although this blog has been relatively quiet, Hughes BioPharma has been very active. This summer, Dr. Hughes began working professionals (work-study balance) MBA program with the Kelley School of Business. This advanced training (including organizational behavior and change, quantitative analysis and economics) is being applied directly in-real time to benefit our clients. One example is a pharmaceutical product and competitor snap-shot analysis performed in 2010 using current analytical techniques.
This fall we welcomed another new client.
As we approach the end of 2010, it’s a good time to pause and survey the business landscape for HBP. This year, 2010, has been the most active of any of the past six years in terms of welcoming new clients. This is indeed something to be thankful for as we approach our national day of Thanksgiving.
Although BioPharma Pulse will not be published this winter/spring, all subscribers and pharma/biotech mavens can follow Dr. Hughes’ Twitter posts ( under the moniker “candicemhughes”).
INDUSTRY NEWS
In a news alert today the FDA office sent out a statement that the head of the FDA Criminal Office had resigned following allegations of misconduct. Read more at:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703730304575633050712742496.html.html
Tags: Candice Hughes, competitive analysis, FDA, Hughes BioPharma, MBA, pharmaceutical industry, quantitative analysis, Twitter
Posted in About Hughes BioPharma, pharmaceutical industry, Regulatory | No Comments »
June 29th, 2010
According to the Financial Times, Glaxo donates the most medication to the poor. Merck was in second place and Novartis in third place. The article noted that most Eurpoean companies ranked above their US-based peers. In 11th (last) place was the only Japanese company listed- Daiichi Sanyko.
One advantage cited in the article to donating medications is positioning a company to succeed in emerging markets. As noted earlier this year in BioPharma Pulse, emerging markets are the expected growth areas for the future. Pharma companies may want to consider their overall profile in emerging markets and identify ways to raise their profile. These tactics will likely vary by country as marketing has moved to increased personalization and away from one-sized fits all. Increasing donations may not only raise a company’s profile, but also strengthen the humanity of the donors as well as alleviate suffering.
Tags: Candice Hughes, charity, donations, Hughes BioPharma Advisers, Marketing, pharmaceutical industry
Posted in Biotech Industry | No Comments »
June 13th, 2010
The newest issue of BioPharma Pulse will be available next week. Learn about how the healthcare bill will affect pharma’s bottom line, customer communication in a crisis, new pharma/physician guidelines and more.
Subscriptions are available free of charge for qualified Editors, Project Managers/Directors, and others at medical communications, pharmaceutical, or biotech companies. Contact admin at hughesbiopharma.com to see if you qualify today!
Tags: BioPharma Pulse, Candice Hughes, Hughes BioPharma Advisers
Posted in About Hughes BioPharma, BioPharma Trends, pharmaceutical industry | No Comments »
