Effectively Leading Country Launches in Pharma
With Jo Lopez
Course Details
THE CONTENT
The first year of a product launch is critical, as early performance strongly shapes long-term success. For country teams, this means preparation, alignment, and flawless execution are essential.
This course provides a clear framework and practical tools for translating global launch strategies into actionable country plans. You will learn how to align cross-functional teams around shared priorities, tailor activities to local market realities, and anticipate common challenges that can make or break launch success.
If you want to ensure your country launch team is fully prepared to deliver on both global expectations and local needs, this course is an essential investment!
I learned the fundamentals of launch excellence — comprehensive, detailed, and to the point. The clarity and structure of the course helped me grasp the core concepts quickly and effectively.
Roche
Cengiz İncegül, Launch Excellence Lead - Turkey - March 2025
THE EXPERT
Jo Lopez is Practice Lead Early Commercialisation and Launch Excellence at Uptake, a global independent healthcare consultancy focused on driving uptake across the pharma and biotech industry.
Over 20 years of international experience in launch excellence and early commercialisation.
Former senior global launch leader at GSK, with earlier commercial and market access roles at Roche.
Praised by participants since joining the CELforPharma faculty in 2023 for her deep expertise, engaging teaching style, and ability to deliver practical, actionable insights.
THE AUDIENCE & INTERACTIVE LEARNING FORMAT
This hands-on course is designed for all leaders and key contributors to a country launch team, including Marketing, Commercial, Medical Affairs, Market Access, and Business Intelligence.
It is also highly relevant for professionals from other functions who play a role in brand launches and want to understand the broader cross-functional picture.
The interactive format combines expert-led teaching, case-based group exercises, and peer discussions, ensuring you gain not only strategic insights but also hands-on experience in solving real launch challenges.
If you are a consultant, please contact Annelies Swaan, who will check with the faculty whether you can attend.
The Effectively Leading Country Launches in Pharma course was full of interactivity and had a nice scheduled agenda. Jo Lopez, the expert, is a very knowledgeable presenter.
Alexion
Luca Benfatti, Launch Excellence Lead - United Kingdom - March 2024
The ingredients of a successful country launch team.
Timelines, critical elements, and tools to build an effective country launch plan.
Key criteria to determine the optimal ‘Go-to-Market’ model for your brand.
Principles and tools for measuring and assessing the progress of the country launch plan.
How to ensure launch readiness at the country level.
Key considerations for developing your post-launch optimisation plan.
This was a really interesting course, packed with valuable insights and practical frameworks. I would recommend it not only to country launch leads but also to members of global teams to have an overall understanding of the launch management process at the country level.
Zambon
Alexander Lifanov, Launch Excellence - Italy - December 2024
| Welcome & Introductions (~15 min) |
| What is Launch Excellence in Pharma? (~30 min) |
|
| Ingredients of a Successful Country Launch Team (~1 h) |
|
| The Critical Path to Building the Country Launch Plan (~1 h) |
|
| Lunch Break |
| The Critical Path to Building the Country Launch Plan (ctd.) (~30 min) |
|
| Monitoring the Country Launch Plan (~45 min) |
|
| Launch Readiness at the Country Level (~1 h 30 min) |
|
| Maximising Post-Launch Performance (~30 min) |
|
UPCOMING DATES & FORMATS - FEES
5 December 2025
Live online (CET timing)
Early bird € 1 470
(until 31/10/2025)
(Full fee € 1 670)
20 March 2026
Live online (CET timing)
Early bird € 1 570
(until 13/02/2026)
(Full fee € 1 770)
TIMING & LOCATION
Live Online (CET): Zoom sessions between 9 AM and 5 PM CET (Brussels, Amsterdam, Paris time).
Live Online (EST): Zoom sessions between 8 AM and 4 PM EST (Eastern Standard Time).
Face-to-Face: Held at the Crowne Plaza Brussels Airport (Da Vincilaan 4, 1831 Brussels), between 9 AM and 5 PM CET. Preferential hotel rates available for participants.
All practical details will be shared upon registration. For any questions, please contact Margherita Mutto or call +32 472 03 11 38 .
GROUP DISCOUNTS
Team discounts can be offered to 2 or more delegates from the same company.
Email Annelies Swaan, Director Business Operations, for more details.
HOW TO REGISTER
Click the green “Register” button on your preferred course session.
The registration wizard will guide you through the process.Alternatively, download the offline registration form and send the completed form to Annelies Swaan.
PAYMENT OPTIONS
Credit Card: You’ll receive a secure payment link with your invoice (no immediate payment required).
Bank Transfer: Details provided with your invoice.
For help with registration, email Annelies Swaan or contact her by phone at +32 486 98 52 49.
INCLUDED IN THE REGISTRATION FEE
Access to a highly interactive, small-group online course (max 20 participants)
Course materials in both digital and hard copy format
Certificate of attendance signed by the experts and CELforPharma
VAT INFORMATION
Prices exclude VAT. VAT application depends on course format and your location:
Face-to-Face in Belgium: 21% Belgian VAT applies
Live online courses & self-study programme: The applicable VAT depends on your invoicing address. Contact your local VAT office for refund procedures where applicable.
TRANSFER & CANCELLATION POLICY
Flexible Transfer
If a registrant is unable to attend the scheduled course, they can avoid any cancellation charges by providing a suitable replacement participant.
Alternatively, the registrant may transfer once, on a 'space-available' basis and at no extra cost, to another course of the same value held within one year of the original course date, provided this is done at least three weeks prior to the event.
Registration Cancellation
Less than 14 days prior to the course date: The registrant is liable to pay the full invoiced registration fee.
Between 15 and 30 days prior to the course date: The registrant is liable to pay 50% of the invoiced registration fee.
More than 30 days prior to the course date: The registrant is liable to pay a cancellation fee of € 450 per registrant.
If a registrant postpones their participation to a future course and subsequently cancels again, no refund will be issued for the registration fees.
The average Recommendation Score from participants of the last session was
8,7/10!
Testimonials from past participants:
I learned the fundamentals of launch excellence — comprehensive, detailed, and to the point. The clarity and structure of the course helped me grasp the core concepts quickly and effectively.
Roche
Cengiz İncegül, Launch Excellence Lead - Turkey - March 2025
Leading and lagging metrics, launch archetyping, and the 9R Model were key takeaways for me. The balance between interaction and information made the experience both engaging and insightful.
Roche
Natalia Biryukova, Business Insights Partner - Russia - March 2025
This was a really interesting course, packed with valuable insights and practical frameworks. I would recommend it not only to country launch leads but also to members of global teams to have an overall understanding of the launch management process at the country level.
Zambon
Alexander Lifanov, Launch Excellence - Italy - December 2024
Good refreshment, concise knowledge, raising awareness of important steps in the launch phases.
Medis Therapeutics
Sonja Pekošak, Business and Alliance Head - Slovenia - December 2024
The Effectively Leading Country Launches in Pharma course was excellent. Jo spoke with real experience and expertise and the practical tools shared are invaluable. Really valuable use of time with learnings that can be applied immediately. Thank you!
Biogen
Mandy Beynon, Associate Director Marketing - UK & Ireland - March 2024
The Effectively Leading Country Launches in Pharma course was full of interactivity and had a nice scheduled agenda. Jo Lopez, the expert, is a very knowledgeable presenter.
Alexion
Luca Benfatti, Launch Excellence Lead - United Kingdom - March 2024
This was a very good course with great interactivity, a knowledgeable trainer and many actionable insights. Recommended!
Burson Cohn & Wolfe
Thomas Gelin, Head of Health Public Affairs, Europe - Belgium - March 2024
I think this course covers the topic well, with all the aspects, practical tools and an expert trainer who is very experienced and knowledgeable. For this training, I thought the digital format was perfect and the interaction amongst the other participants was very dynamic!
Viatris
Elise Bailly, Alliance Management & New Brand Planning Lead Europe - France - March 2024
Very good and relevant course with hands-on experience shared. It was valuable to learn and discuss the reasons for failing launches and to focus on the ones you can influence. Thank you for a great course!
Norgine
Gitte Elgaard, Senior Launch Brands Lead, Nordics - Denmark - March 2024
People attending this course are typically also interested in the below courses.
Need help to find the right course? Email Inge Cornelis (Director, Client & Product Projects) or call +32 473 65 15 77
Course Details
Upcoming Session
5 December 2025, Live online (CET timing)
Early bird € 1 470
(until 31/10/2025)
(Full fee € 1 670)
Prices are excl. VAT
THE CONTENT
The first year of a product launch is critical, as early performance strongly shapes long-term success. For country teams, this means preparation, alignment, and flawless execution are essential.
This course provides a clear framework and practical tools for translating global launch strategies into actionable country plans. You will learn how to align cross-functional teams around shared priorities, tailor activities to local market realities, and anticipate common challenges that can make or break launch success.
If you want to ensure your country launch team is fully prepared to deliver on both global expectations and local needs, this course is an essential investment!
I learned the fundamentals of launch excellence — comprehensive, detailed, and to the point. The clarity and structure of the course helped me grasp the core concepts quickly and effectively.
Roche
Cengiz İncegül, Launch Excellence Lead - Turkey - March 2025
THE EXPERT
Jo Lopez is Practice Lead Early Commercialisation and Launch Excellence at Uptake, a global independent healthcare consultancy focused on driving uptake across the pharma and biotech industry.
Over 20 years of international experience in launch excellence and early commercialisation.
Former senior global launch leader at GSK, with earlier commercial and market access roles at Roche.
Praised by participants since joining the CELforPharma faculty in 2023 for her deep expertise, engaging teaching style, and ability to deliver practical, actionable insights.
THE AUDIENCE & INTERACTIVE LEARNING FORMAT
This hands-on course is designed for all leaders and key contributors to a country launch team, including Marketing, Commercial, Medical Affairs, Market Access, and Business Intelligence.
It is also highly relevant for professionals from other functions who play a role in brand launches and want to understand the broader cross-functional picture.
The interactive format combines expert-led teaching, case-based group exercises, and peer discussions, ensuring you gain not only strategic insights but also hands-on experience in solving real launch challenges.
If you are a consultant, please contact Annelies Swaan, who will check with the faculty whether you can attend.
The Effectively Leading Country Launches in Pharma course was full of interactivity and had a nice scheduled agenda. Jo Lopez, the expert, is a very knowledgeable presenter.
Alexion
Luca Benfatti, Launch Excellence Lead - United Kingdom - March 2024
The ingredients of a successful country launch team.
Timelines, critical elements, and tools to build an effective country launch plan.
Key criteria to determine the optimal ‘Go-to-Market’ model for your brand.
Principles and tools for measuring and assessing the progress of the country launch plan.
How to ensure launch readiness at the country level.
Key considerations for developing your post-launch optimisation plan.
This was a really interesting course, packed with valuable insights and practical frameworks. I would recommend it not only to country launch leads but also to members of global teams to have an overall understanding of the launch management process at the country level.
Zambon
Alexander Lifanov, Launch Excellence - Italy - December 2024
| Welcome & Introductions (~15 min) |
| What is Launch Excellence in Pharma? (~30 min) |
|
| Ingredients of a Successful Country Launch Team (~1 h) |
|
| The Critical Path to Building the Country Launch Plan (~1 h) |
|
| Lunch Break |
| The Critical Path to Building the Country Launch Plan (ctd.) (~30 min) |
|
| Monitoring the Country Launch Plan (~45 min) |
|
| Launch Readiness at the Country Level (~1 h 30 min) |
|
| Maximising Post-Launch Performance (~30 min) |
|
UPCOMING DATES & FORMATS - FEES
5 December 2025
Live online (CET timing)
Early bird € 1 470
(until 31/10/2025)
(Full fee € 1 670)
20 March 2026
Live online (CET timing)
Early bird € 1 570
(until 13/02/2026)
(Full fee € 1 770)
TIMING & LOCATION
Live Online (CET): Zoom sessions between 9 AM and 5 PM CET (Brussels, Amsterdam, Paris time).
Live Online (EST): Zoom sessions between 8 AM and 4 PM EST (Eastern Standard Time).
Face-to-Face: Held at the Crowne Plaza Brussels Airport (Da Vincilaan 4, 1831 Brussels), between 9 AM and 5 PM CET. Preferential hotel rates available for participants.
All practical details will be shared upon registration. For any questions, please contact Margherita Mutto or call +32 472 03 11 38 .
GROUP DISCOUNTS
Team discounts can be offered to 2 or more delegates from the same company.
Email Annelies Swaan, Director Business Operations, for more details.
HOW TO REGISTER
Click the green “Register” button on your preferred course session.
The registration wizard will guide you through the process.Alternatively, download the offline registration form and send the completed form to Annelies Swaan.
PAYMENT OPTIONS
Credit Card: You’ll receive a secure payment link with your invoice (no immediate payment required).
Bank Transfer: Details provided with your invoice.
For help with registration, email Annelies Swaan or contact her by phone at +32 486 98 52 49.
INCLUDED IN THE REGISTRATION FEE
Access to a highly interactive, small-group online course (max 20 participants)
Course materials in both digital and hard copy format
Certificate of attendance signed by the experts and CELforPharma
VAT INFORMATION
Prices exclude VAT. VAT application depends on course format and your location:
Face-to-Face in Belgium: 21% Belgian VAT applies
Live online courses & self-study programme: The applicable VAT depends on your invoicing address. Contact your local VAT office for refund procedures where applicable.
TRANSFER & CANCELLATION POLICY
Flexible Transfer
If a registrant is unable to attend the scheduled course, they can avoid any cancellation charges by providing a suitable replacement participant.
Alternatively, the registrant may transfer once, on a 'space-available' basis and at no extra cost, to another course of the same value held within one year of the original course date, provided this is done at least three weeks prior to the event.
Registration Cancellation
Less than 14 days prior to the course date: The registrant is liable to pay the full invoiced registration fee.
Between 15 and 30 days prior to the course date: The registrant is liable to pay 50% of the invoiced registration fee.
More than 30 days prior to the course date: The registrant is liable to pay a cancellation fee of € 450 per registrant.
If a registrant postpones their participation to a future course and subsequently cancels again, no refund will be issued for the registration fees.
The average Recommendation Score from participants of the last session was
8,7/10!
Testimonials from past participants:
I learned the fundamentals of launch excellence — comprehensive, detailed, and to the point. The clarity and structure of the course helped me grasp the core concepts quickly and effectively.
Roche
Cengiz İncegül, Launch Excellence Lead - Turkey - March 2025
Leading and lagging metrics, launch archetyping, and the 9R Model were key takeaways for me. The balance between interaction and information made the experience both engaging and insightful.
Roche
Natalia Biryukova, Business Insights Partner - Russia - March 2025
This was a really interesting course, packed with valuable insights and practical frameworks. I would recommend it not only to country launch leads but also to members of global teams to have an overall understanding of the launch management process at the country level.
Zambon
Alexander Lifanov, Launch Excellence - Italy - December 2024
Good refreshment, concise knowledge, raising awareness of important steps in the launch phases.
Medis Therapeutics
Sonja Pekošak, Business and Alliance Head - Slovenia - December 2024
The Effectively Leading Country Launches in Pharma course was excellent. Jo spoke with real experience and expertise and the practical tools shared are invaluable. Really valuable use of time with learnings that can be applied immediately. Thank you!
Biogen
Mandy Beynon, Associate Director Marketing - UK & Ireland - March 2024
The Effectively Leading Country Launches in Pharma course was full of interactivity and had a nice scheduled agenda. Jo Lopez, the expert, is a very knowledgeable presenter.
Alexion
Luca Benfatti, Launch Excellence Lead - United Kingdom - March 2024
This was a very good course with great interactivity, a knowledgeable trainer and many actionable insights. Recommended!
Burson Cohn & Wolfe
Thomas Gelin, Head of Health Public Affairs, Europe - Belgium - March 2024
I think this course covers the topic well, with all the aspects, practical tools and an expert trainer who is very experienced and knowledgeable. For this training, I thought the digital format was perfect and the interaction amongst the other participants was very dynamic!
Viatris
Elise Bailly, Alliance Management & New Brand Planning Lead Europe - France - March 2024
Very good and relevant course with hands-on experience shared. It was valuable to learn and discuss the reasons for failing launches and to focus on the ones you can influence. Thank you for a great course!
Norgine
Gitte Elgaard, Senior Launch Brands Lead, Nordics - Denmark - March 2024
People attending this course are typically also interested in the below courses.
Need help to find the right course? Email Inge Cornelis (Director, Client & Product Projects) or call +32 473 65 15 77