By Dr. Neal Hansen, expert-trainer of the Late Stage Pharma Lifecycle Management course.

As a company’s portfolio grows and matures, the challenges facing the brands will change, with the need to manage the brand through evolving competitive dynamics, increasing payer pressure, and eventually loss of exclusivity and the entry of generic competition. Managing established brands often requires a specific, tailored approach to lifecycle management. Here we provide 5 best practices to consider when managing brands from mid to late lifecycle.

1. Unmet need should remain the driving focus of lifecycle management

Map the key stakeholders that will likely influence molecule and brand choice through the late lifecycle period

Understand the outstanding needs of the priority stakeholders and develop solutions accordingly

2. Consider where sustainable brand/asset use can be expected and focus efforts

Target and support segments where a sustainable role for the molecule in treatment is viable

Identify the key needs for geographic markets where brand use is likely to be sustainable and align focus accordingly

3. Target full asset optimisation as the guiding principle for late lifecycle management

Identify how best to maximise full value from manufacturing capacity, particularly for biologics where downscaling with reduced demand may lead to greater inefficiencies

Consider optimisation strategies for core brands, clone products and partnering approaches

4. View late lifecycle management as an opportunity for innovation

Recognise opportunities to innovate in commercial and supply chain models to deliver value to the asset and to the organisation

Don’t be limited by what can be done in house- consider external approaches to support success

5. Recognise multiple ways in which the mature brand can support a franchise

Ensure cash-flow optimisation is central to LLC planning, but do not restrict strategic thinking to ‘cash-cow’ creation

Consider opportunities to generate halo effects for the rest of the portfolio through LLC efforts

Last update: February 2023

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