LIFE SCIENCES

Key Themes of interest

• Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla is focused on reshaping the company to become a smaller, science-based company with a singular focus on innovative pharma. In doing so, the company aims to be in a better position to focus its product pipeline on long-term sustainable growth. The company is being reshaped through both acquisitions and spin-offs to become leaner and more focused on innovative R&D.
• KPMG has reported that the low interest rates and high stock valuations are fueling the life sciences CEOs' growing appetite towards mergers and acquisitions in the US. 44% of global life sciences CEOs consider business model transformation as the leading driver of M&As, followed by improving market share (39%), and capitalizing on low interest rates (39%).
• According to an EY report, 64% of life sciences executives say that their company will be actively pursuing M&As in the next 12 months, up from 53% six months ago. 67% of executives say that their company is planning to invest 25% or more capital into digital and technology.

Barriers

• According to a PWC survey, the top 3 concerns among CEOs in the healthcare and life sciences include the following: the rising cost of healthcare, resource constraints, and addressing social determinants of health.
• The LSX report discusses in detail, the key barriers faced by c-suite executives in the life sciences industry. The key areas of focus are: investment and IPOs, M&A and deal-making, R&D to commercialization, IP, regulation and compliance, and talent and executive strategy.

Needs

• PWC survey findings show that health and life science company CEOs are becoming more interested in analystics. Data concerning the brand, reputation and customers’ needs and preferences were valued by over 90% of these CEOs but less than 30% had access to comprehensive information on these topics. Other areas of interest in terms of analytics include financial forecasts, projections, and business risk data.

Business Decision Drivers

• According to Gartner, the key business drivers that impact the decisions of CIOs in life sciences include: pace, cost, and risk of innovation; impact of globalization; changing definitions of value and price; shifting health policy, legislation, reforms, and regulations; reshaping value propositions across the healthcare ecosystem; and the rise in consumer accountability and power.