Jo Lopez

Effectively Leading Country Launches in Pharma

With Jo Lopez

Course Details

The successful launch of a new product is a make-or-break moment, as data repeatedly show the importance of the performance of a new brand in the initial year.

Therefore, a well-crafted, cross-functional launch plan, with clearly defined roles and responsibilities, will maximise your chances of a successful launch as a country launch team.

Attending this course is a crucial investment for leaders and key contributors in a country launch team because it offers comprehensive insights and practical tools to manage successful product launches.

And, you will not only learn from the expert trainer, Jo Lopez, but also from the experiences of your international peers through group discussions and exercises.
 

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

  1. The ingredients of a successful country launch team.

  2. Timelines, critical elements, and tools to build an effective country launch plan.

  3. Key criteria to determine the optimal ‘Go-to-Market’ model for your brand.

  4. Principles and tools for measuring and assessing the progress of the country launch plan.

  5. How to ensure launch readiness at the country level.

  6. Key considerations for developing your post-launch optimisation plan.

Course agenda

 

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)
  • Defining launch excellence in pharma
  • Examples, data and trends on why it is key to get your launch right
  • Latest industry thought leadership on mastering launch excellence
Ingredients of a Successful Country Launch Team (~1 h)
  • Who should be involved in the launch team?
  • Using the RACI tool to determine responsibilities and roles of launch team members
  • The mindset, behaviours, and capabilities that will lead to a successful launch
The Critical Path to Building the Country Launch Plan (~1 h)
  • Launch activation: process, timelines and milestones
  • The building blocks of a strong launch plan
  • Using the swim-lane methodology to map timelines for what should be done, and by whom
  • Group exercise: participants assess the launch plan from a case study and the findings are discussed in plenary
Lunch Break
The Critical Path to Building the Country Launch Plan (ctd.) (~30 min)
  • How to do a lean launch when you have less than 18 months before the launch
  • Key criteria to determine the optimal ‘Go-to-Market’ model for your brand
Monitoring the Country Launch Plan (~45 min)
  • Avoiding vanity metrics and measuring what matters for your launch
  • Using the Risk-Impact Matrix to assess and mitigate risk
  • Group exercise: participants apply the Risk-Impact Matrix to the case study and the findings are discussed in plenary
Launch Readiness at the Country Level (~1 h 30 min)
  • Key principles of launch readiness and where to focus your efforts using RAG (red – amber – green) status
  • Tried and trusted approaches to launch readiness reviews (how often, whom should be involved,…)
  • The nine Rs to assess your launch readiness
  • How to ensure global is an enabler rather than a barrier to your launch
Maximising Post-Launch Performance (~30 min)
  • What is post-launch optimisation and how does it add value
  • Key considerations for developing your post-launch optimisation plan

 

Download Brochure

 

Complete the below form to download the full course brochure. It outlines the detailed agenda, learning outcomes, expert info and some testimonials from past participants.

  • Jo Lopez is Practice Lead Early Commercialisation and Launch Excellence at Uptake - a global value-driven independent healthcare consultancy focused on driving uptake across the pharma and biotech industry.

  • She is an international pharmaceutical leader with over 20 years of experience, specialising in launch excellence and early commercialisation. Before joining Uptake, she held senior global launch roles at GSK, as well as local commercial and market access roles at Roche.

  • Jo joined the CELforPharma faculty in 2023, and participants praise her for her deep expertise, engaging teaching style, and ability to provide practical, actionable insights that can be immediately applied to real-world launch scenarios.
     

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

All leaders and key contributors to a country launch team: marketing, commercial, medical affairs, market access, business intelligence.

Other functions that are involved in the launch of a brand and that want to understand the bigger picture will also benefit from this course.

If you are a consultant, please contact Annelies Swaan, who will check with the faculty whether you can attend. 

Would you like to receive a list of anonymised participant profiles from previous sessions? 

Email Annelies Swaan

 

 

UPCOMING DATES & FORMATS - FEES

5 December 2025

Live online (CET timing)

Early bird € 1 470

(until 31/10/2025)

(Full fee € 1 670)

 


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: 

Do you want to upskill your team?

We can organise this training in-company (face-to-face or live online) and customise it to your specific focus and needs.

Fill in the below form and Inge Cornelis, Director of Client & Product Projects, will contact you with further information.
 

Course Details

Dates & Locations

5 December 2025

Live online (CET timing)

Register

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 successful launch of a new product is a make-or-break moment, as data repeatedly show the importance of the performance of a new brand in the initial year.

Therefore, a well-crafted, cross-functional launch plan, with clearly defined roles and responsibilities, will maximise your chances of a successful launch as a country launch team.

Attending this course is a crucial investment for leaders and key contributors in a country launch team because it offers comprehensive insights and practical tools to manage successful product launches.

And, you will not only learn from the expert trainer, Jo Lopez, but also from the experiences of your international peers through group discussions and exercises.
 

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

  1. The ingredients of a successful country launch team.

  2. Timelines, critical elements, and tools to build an effective country launch plan.

  3. Key criteria to determine the optimal ‘Go-to-Market’ model for your brand.

  4. Principles and tools for measuring and assessing the progress of the country launch plan.

  5. How to ensure launch readiness at the country level.

  6. Key considerations for developing your post-launch optimisation plan.

Course agenda

 

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)
  • Defining launch excellence in pharma
  • Examples, data and trends on why it is key to get your launch right
  • Latest industry thought leadership on mastering launch excellence
Ingredients of a Successful Country Launch Team (~1 h)
  • Who should be involved in the launch team?
  • Using the RACI tool to determine responsibilities and roles of launch team members
  • The mindset, behaviours, and capabilities that will lead to a successful launch
The Critical Path to Building the Country Launch Plan (~1 h)
  • Launch activation: process, timelines and milestones
  • The building blocks of a strong launch plan
  • Using the swim-lane methodology to map timelines for what should be done, and by whom
  • Group exercise: participants assess the launch plan from a case study and the findings are discussed in plenary
Lunch Break
The Critical Path to Building the Country Launch Plan (ctd.) (~30 min)
  • How to do a lean launch when you have less than 18 months before the launch
  • Key criteria to determine the optimal ‘Go-to-Market’ model for your brand
Monitoring the Country Launch Plan (~45 min)
  • Avoiding vanity metrics and measuring what matters for your launch
  • Using the Risk-Impact Matrix to assess and mitigate risk
  • Group exercise: participants apply the Risk-Impact Matrix to the case study and the findings are discussed in plenary
Launch Readiness at the Country Level (~1 h 30 min)
  • Key principles of launch readiness and where to focus your efforts using RAG (red – amber – green) status
  • Tried and trusted approaches to launch readiness reviews (how often, whom should be involved,…)
  • The nine Rs to assess your launch readiness
  • How to ensure global is an enabler rather than a barrier to your launch
Maximising Post-Launch Performance (~30 min)
  • What is post-launch optimisation and how does it add value
  • Key considerations for developing your post-launch optimisation plan

 

Download Brochure

 

Complete the below form to download the full course brochure. It outlines the detailed agenda, learning outcomes, expert info and some testimonials from past participants.

  • Jo Lopez is Practice Lead Early Commercialisation and Launch Excellence at Uptake - a global value-driven independent healthcare consultancy focused on driving uptake across the pharma and biotech industry.

  • She is an international pharmaceutical leader with over 20 years of experience, specialising in launch excellence and early commercialisation. Before joining Uptake, she held senior global launch roles at GSK, as well as local commercial and market access roles at Roche.

  • Jo joined the CELforPharma faculty in 2023, and participants praise her for her deep expertise, engaging teaching style, and ability to provide practical, actionable insights that can be immediately applied to real-world launch scenarios.
     

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

All leaders and key contributors to a country launch team: marketing, commercial, medical affairs, market access, business intelligence.

Other functions that are involved in the launch of a brand and that want to understand the bigger picture will also benefit from this course.

If you are a consultant, please contact Annelies Swaan, who will check with the faculty whether you can attend. 

Would you like to receive a list of anonymised participant profiles from previous sessions? 

Email Annelies Swaan

 

 

UPCOMING DATES & FORMATS - FEES

5 December 2025

Live online (CET timing)

Early bird € 1 470

(until 31/10/2025)

(Full fee € 1 670)

 


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

Do you want to upskill your team?

We can organise this training in-company (face-to-face or live online) and customise it to your specific focus and needs.

Fill in the below form and Inge Cornelis, Director of Client & Product Projects, will contact you with further information.
 

Dates & Locations

5 December 2025

Live online (CET timing)

Register