Strategy & Planning for Global Commercial Launch Success in Pharma
With Jo Lopez
Course Details
When launching a new pharmaceutical, you only get one chance to get it right. Yet, many launches fail to achieve their full potential.
Achieving global commercial launch success requires an early start—beginning as early as proof of concept—along with specialised expertise and seamless cross-functional collaboration.
This course equips you with all the concepts, evidence-based tools, and strategic insights to make informed decisions and effectively plan every step towards a successful global launch.
Not only will you have the opportunity to consult directly with an experienced expert, but you’ll also engage in meaningful discussions and share experiences with international peers, making this a truly unique learning experience.
I really appreciated the real-world examples and case studies. The course provided a holistic view — from early commercial involvement to post-launch optimisation — which made it especially valuable.
Pfizer
Milena Reinhard, Senior Manager Launch Excellence - Germany - April 2025
The early commercial activities required to maximise product differentiation versus the competition at launch.
The market and stakeholder analyses that are crucial for identifying all growth opportunities.
How to define the components of an impactful brand strategy: segmentation, positioning, strategic imperatives, and financials.
How to prepare for a global launch in terms of scenario planning, customer engagement, and critical deliverables.
How to allocate resources, define KPIs, and engage country affiliates.
I appreciated the small-group format, which allowed for meaningful exchanges with the other participants. The expert brought a real-world background that made the discussions practical and highly relevant.
Boehringer Ingelheim
Julius Krawczyk, Senior Technical Services Manager in Global Strategic Marketing - Germany - April 2025
Day 1
| Welcome & Introductions (~30 min) |
| What ‘Early Commercial’ Should Do in Pharma Right After Proof of Concept (~1 h 15 min) |
|
| How to Maximise Product Differentiation at Launch Through Early Commercial Activities (~1 h 15 min) |
|
| Lunch Break |
| Critical Analyses to Determine Growth Opportunities for Your Brand (~2 h 15 min) |
|
| Defining the Brand Strategy (1): Segmentation & Positioning (~1 h) |
|
| Wrap-up of Day 1 (~15 min) |
Day 2
| Roadmap for Day 2 (~15 min) |
| Defining the Brand Strategy (2): Strategic Imperatives & Financials (~1 h 15 min) |
|
| Preparing for Global Launch (1) : Scenario Planning – Customer Engagement – Critical Deliverables (~2 h) |
|
| Lunch Break |
| Preparing for Global Launch (2): Resource Allocation – KPIs – Engaging Country Affiliates (~1 h 45 min) |
|
| Skills & Capabilities of the Most Effective Commercial Leaders in Pharma (~30 min) |
|
| Wrap-up & Close (~15 min) |
|
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 content was very well presented and structured, with clear slides. I especially appreciated the practical real-world examples and the group reflections. Jo is highly competent and a great expert with extensive experience!
Boehringer Ingelheim
Ulrike Voigt, Franchise Manager Leisure in Global Strategic Marketing - Germany - April 2025
A cross-functional launch team typically consists of executives from Marketing, Sales, Medical, Market Access, External Affairs and Business Intelligence. This course is a must-attend for all members of any cross-functional launch team that needs to launch a brand in the coming 1-3 years. In particular, all executives responsible for building, executing and measuring a launch plan.
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
20-21 November 2025
Live online (CET timing)
Early bird € 2 670
(until 17/10/2025)
(Full fee € 2 870)
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
For live online courses:
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
For face-to-face courses:
Access to a highly interactive, small-group course (max 20 participants)
Course materials in both digital and hard copy format
Certificate of attendance signed by the experts and CELforPharma
Opportunities for networking and informal discussions during coffee/tea breaks and lunch
A group dinner in a nearby restaurant on the evening of day 1
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
8,8/10!
Testimonials from past participants:
I appreciated the small-group format, which allowed for meaningful exchanges with the other participants. The expert brought a real-world background that made the discussions practical and highly relevant.
Boehringer Ingelheim
Julius Krawczyk, Senior Technical Services Manager in Global Strategic Marketing - Germany - April 2025
I really appreciated the real-world examples and case studies. The course provided a holistic view — from early commercial involvement to post-launch optimisation — which made it especially valuable.
Pfizer
Milena Reinhard, Senior Manager Launch Excellence - Germany - April 2025
Many thanks to expert-trainer Jo Lopez and the CELforPharma team! It was an amazing experience and a great learning opportunity.
Miltenyi Biomedicine
Ruiyu Zhang, Global Business Strategy & Analytics Specialist - Germany - April 2025
The content was very well presented and structured, with clear slides. I especially appreciated the practical real-world examples and the group reflections. Jo is highly competent and a great expert with extensive experience!
Boehringer Ingelheim
Ulrike Voigt, Franchise Manager Leisure in Global Strategic Marketing - Germany - April 2025
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
Dates & Locations
Upcoming Session
20-21 November 2025, Live online (CET timing)
Early bird € 2 670
(until 17/10/2025)
(Full fee € 2 870)
Prices are excl. VAT
When launching a new pharmaceutical, you only get one chance to get it right. Yet, many launches fail to achieve their full potential.
Achieving global commercial launch success requires an early start—beginning as early as proof of concept—along with specialised expertise and seamless cross-functional collaboration.
This course equips you with all the concepts, evidence-based tools, and strategic insights to make informed decisions and effectively plan every step towards a successful global launch.
Not only will you have the opportunity to consult directly with an experienced expert, but you’ll also engage in meaningful discussions and share experiences with international peers, making this a truly unique learning experience.
I really appreciated the real-world examples and case studies. The course provided a holistic view — from early commercial involvement to post-launch optimisation — which made it especially valuable.
Pfizer
Milena Reinhard, Senior Manager Launch Excellence - Germany - April 2025
The early commercial activities required to maximise product differentiation versus the competition at launch.
The market and stakeholder analyses that are crucial for identifying all growth opportunities.
How to define the components of an impactful brand strategy: segmentation, positioning, strategic imperatives, and financials.
How to prepare for a global launch in terms of scenario planning, customer engagement, and critical deliverables.
How to allocate resources, define KPIs, and engage country affiliates.
I appreciated the small-group format, which allowed for meaningful exchanges with the other participants. The expert brought a real-world background that made the discussions practical and highly relevant.
Boehringer Ingelheim
Julius Krawczyk, Senior Technical Services Manager in Global Strategic Marketing - Germany - April 2025
Day 1
| Welcome & Introductions (~30 min) |
| What ‘Early Commercial’ Should Do in Pharma Right After Proof of Concept (~1 h 15 min) |
|
| How to Maximise Product Differentiation at Launch Through Early Commercial Activities (~1 h 15 min) |
|
| Lunch Break |
| Critical Analyses to Determine Growth Opportunities for Your Brand (~2 h 15 min) |
|
| Defining the Brand Strategy (1): Segmentation & Positioning (~1 h) |
|
| Wrap-up of Day 1 (~15 min) |
Day 2
| Roadmap for Day 2 (~15 min) |
| Defining the Brand Strategy (2): Strategic Imperatives & Financials (~1 h 15 min) |
|
| Preparing for Global Launch (1) : Scenario Planning – Customer Engagement – Critical Deliverables (~2 h) |
|
| Lunch Break |
| Preparing for Global Launch (2): Resource Allocation – KPIs – Engaging Country Affiliates (~1 h 45 min) |
|
| Skills & Capabilities of the Most Effective Commercial Leaders in Pharma (~30 min) |
|
| Wrap-up & Close (~15 min) |
|
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 content was very well presented and structured, with clear slides. I especially appreciated the practical real-world examples and the group reflections. Jo is highly competent and a great expert with extensive experience!
Boehringer Ingelheim
Ulrike Voigt, Franchise Manager Leisure in Global Strategic Marketing - Germany - April 2025
A cross-functional launch team typically consists of executives from Marketing, Sales, Medical, Market Access, External Affairs and Business Intelligence. This course is a must-attend for all members of any cross-functional launch team that needs to launch a brand in the coming 1-3 years. In particular, all executives responsible for building, executing and measuring a launch plan.
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
20-21 November 2025
Live online (CET timing)
Early bird € 2 670
(until 17/10/2025)
(Full fee € 2 870)
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
For live online courses:
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
For face-to-face courses:
Access to a highly interactive, small-group course (max 20 participants)
Course materials in both digital and hard copy format
Certificate of attendance signed by the experts and CELforPharma
Opportunities for networking and informal discussions during coffee/tea breaks and lunch
A group dinner in a nearby restaurant on the evening of day 1
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
8,8/10!
Testimonials from past participants:
I appreciated the small-group format, which allowed for meaningful exchanges with the other participants. The expert brought a real-world background that made the discussions practical and highly relevant.
Boehringer Ingelheim
Julius Krawczyk, Senior Technical Services Manager in Global Strategic Marketing - Germany - April 2025
I really appreciated the real-world examples and case studies. The course provided a holistic view — from early commercial involvement to post-launch optimisation — which made it especially valuable.
Pfizer
Milena Reinhard, Senior Manager Launch Excellence - Germany - April 2025
Many thanks to expert-trainer Jo Lopez and the CELforPharma team! It was an amazing experience and a great learning opportunity.
Miltenyi Biomedicine
Ruiyu Zhang, Global Business Strategy & Analytics Specialist - Germany - April 2025
The content was very well presented and structured, with clear slides. I especially appreciated the practical real-world examples and the group reflections. Jo is highly competent and a great expert with extensive experience!
Boehringer Ingelheim
Ulrike Voigt, Franchise Manager Leisure in Global Strategic Marketing - Germany - April 2025
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