The Future of Pharma: Evolutionary Threats and Opportunities

Must read! And very easy to read, with many insights and illustrations from interviews of senior leaders of the industry or its ecosystem

With this book Brian Smith demonstrates the audacity to predict the future of the pharmaceutical industry. He first provides an historical overview of the path that has lead the pharmaceutical industry to evolve from the classic apothecary form, to what it is today. Now, the industry is faced with many challenges, such as increasing health care costs while resources devoted to health care decrease. Many factors are described that herald the end of the traditional pharma business model. And why blockbuster thinking is no longer effective in today's environment.He then identifies several new business models, adapted to the new environment, and demonstrates the innovative thinking needed to create them. Also, the author submits many quotes from leaders of pharmaceutical companies who are currently responsible for innovation to survive the massive changes presented in the healthcare environment today. Not afraid of Darwinian thought, the underlying thinking seems strongly influenced of the premise that those who can adapt to new conditions shall survive.In essence, the book takes a scholarly approach on how the future of the pharmaceutical industry may be architected. It takes many factors, including social, environmental, and technical factors from our current environment into account, to arrive at its models for the realistic near future. Even more, the book gives tangible, ready-to-use strategies to adapt to the requirements for each individual business model.The book may be valuable for those involved in pharmaceuticals, medicine, medical industry, as well as those in business, or others keen to link to or to understand the evolution eminent in pharmaceutical companies and overall, to adopt evolutionary adaptive tactics.

Excellent study; well researched and the authors thinking is first rate, captured in an elegant but thought provoking text. I have thoroughly enjoyed the concepts and analysis (I don't necessarily agree with some of the conclusions) but it is a must read text. I look forward to next edition.