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The Escalating Costs of in-Licensing Means That in-House Product Development is Fast Becoming Essential for Specialty Pharma Companies Needing to Fuel Their Pipelines

Posted on: Thursday, 30 March 2006, 06:00 CST

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c31637) has announced the addition of Changing Market Dynamics Fuel the Evolution of Specialty Pharma to their offering.

The original modus operandi of specialty pharma companies was to acquire low-sales, underpromoted branded products from big pharma and drastically increase product sales using aggressive, targeted marketing. However, specialty pharma companies are now undergoing a period of change, evolving into companies that are increasingly involved in product development (and even research) as their traditional source of products-big pharma-dries up.

This Decision Resources report outlines the historical development of specialty pharma companies and discusses the current pressures on the industry to evolve. It explores the various specialty pharma business models currently in operation, and examines the factors that have contributed to the success of some of these companies. Finally, it anticipates some of the threats and opportunities the future holds for these companies.

As a growing number of specialty pharma companies compete for a dwindling number of big pharma's underpromoted, cast-off products, specialty pharma must make use of product opportunities beyond the traditional growth-by-acquisition model.

The escalating costs of inlicensing or acquiring existing products means that in-house product development is fast becoming essential for specialty pharma companies needing to fuel their pipelines. Delving into product development increases these companies' risk because new products require some degree of regulatory approval.

Increased competition for a dwindling resource means that the management teams of specialty pharma companies must examine all possible sources of new product opportunities. Considering the often injectable nature of biologicals, biotechnology companies will likely prove to be promising sources of new products for specialty pharma companies in the near future.

Mergers, acquisitions, and other alliances are critical for the growth of specialty pharma companies, enabling them to enter new geographical markets, bring in expertise they lack in-house, and gain access to new products.

The beginnings of consolidation among Japanese drug manufacturers--and the resulting streamlining of their pipelines--may provide some opportunities for specialty pharma companies in Japan. Japanese pharmaceutical companies are likely to increasingly position themselves as U.S.-style specialty pharma companies, exploiting the domestic knowledge built up by their sales teams. These companies' knowledge of the Japanese market will likely make them attractive to overseas companies.

Companies mentioned:

-- Alcon Laboratories

-- Allergan

-- ALTANA Pharma

-- American Pharmaceutical Partners

-- Axcan Pharma

-- Barr Pharmaceuticals

-- Bausch & Lomb

-- Biovail

-- Bradley Pharmaceuticals

- Chiron

-- Connetics

-- Dr. Reddy's Laboratories

-- Endo Pharmaceuticals

-- Ferring Pharmaceuticals

-- First Horizon Pharmaceutical

-- Forest Laboratories

-- IVAX

-- King Pharmaceuticals

-- Kos Pharmaceuticals

-- Lundbeck

-- Medicis Pharmaceutical

-- Merck KGaA

-- Mylan Laboratories

-- Noven Pharmaceuticals

-- Orion Pharma

-- Pharmion

-- Salix Pharmaceuticals

-- Schwarz Pharma

-- Sepracor

-- Shire Pharmaceuticals

-- SICOR

-- SkyePharma

-- Teva Pharmaceutical Industries

-- UCB Pharma

-- Valeant Pharmaceuticals

-- Watson Pharmaceuticals

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c31637

Source: Decision Resources

Source: Business Wire

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