Emerging from disruption: The future of pharma operations strategy
How pharmaceutical companies must rethink their operations strategy amid multiple global pressures.
By: Hillary Dukart, Laurie Lanoue, Mariel Rezende, and Paul Rutten
The article examines how pharmaceutical companies must rethink their operations strategy amid multiple global pressures.
Key Challenges
- Rapidly growing global demand
- New therapeutic modalities like cell and gene therapy expanding to 21% of drug pipelines
- Supply chain disruptions representing potential 25% EBITA losses over a decade
- Inflation pressuring profit margins
Six Major Implications
- Rising operational complexity
- Increased risk
- Shifting capability requirements
- Higher capital expenditure
- Variable-cost increases
- Potential cost-saving opportunities
The authors emphasize that "rising global demand is still a significant challenge for the industry" and note the pharmaceutical sector faces a "talent shortage linked to wider labor market trends."
The Path Forward
The article concludes that digital and analytics advancement offers a pathway forward, though no pharma company has yet emerged as a global leader in this transformation. Leadership must act quickly to develop integrated, long-term operational strategies ensuring enterprise continuity while maintaining patient delivery.
