Restoring Normalcy in the Pharmaceutical Value Chain: The Impact of COVID-19 and the Next Step to Success

October 5, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged industries, countries, and governments endlessly over recent months. The spread of the virus has led to a range of issues that impact the foundation and functioning of business operations, GDPs’, and supply chains. All industries are now working towards recovery, and the pharmaceutical industry is attempting to regain control and functionality across the pharmaceutical value chain.

The pharmaceutical value chain includes every component and every process from manufacturer to end-consumer. This includes, but is not limited to, manufacturing, acquiring regulatory approval, import and export, distribution, and retail. The safety regulations, nationwide lockdowns, and transportation disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic are among the biggest factors impacting the pharmaceutical value chain.

Pharmaceutical companies have attempted to develop more streamlined processes and taken various initiatives prior to the COVID-19 pandemic due to the pharmaceutical value chain’s fragmented nature. However, few have succeeded, and the different strategies utilized by companies did not protect the value chain from the hard-hitting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As the pharmaceutical industry focuses its effort towards recovering the pharmaceutical value chain, companies must understand the impact of the pandemic. Therefore, in this article, Infiniti’s market intelligence experts detail the effects of the COVID-19 crisis on the pharmaceutical value chain. Additionally, they discuss the best path to recovery for pharmaceutical companies and highlight the value of market intelligence solutions in this attempt to return to normalcy.

The pharmaceutical industry is on the path to recovery and companies need to strategize for the changing market dynamics and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Speak to our industry experts to learn how companies can develop the optimal strategies to face these challenges.

Impact of COVID-19 on the Pharmaceutical Value Chain

As is the case with most industries, there have been innumerable problems posed by the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic in the pharmaceutical value chain. However, three major segments have been severely impacted and will need the most focus and recovery strategies from pharmaceutical companies. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the pharmaceutical value chain can be witnessed in the following three segments:

Pharmaceutical Value Chain + Market Intelligence

APIs and the Dependence on APAC Countries

The pharmaceutical industry’s raw material supply chain was disrupted by the high dependence of pharmaceutical companies on China and India. The two APAC countries source a majority segment of the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), intermediates, and reagents required by pharma companies. Since China was the first infected country, the raw material supply chain was slightly challenged. However, the spread of the virus has impacted India severely and caused a major disruption in the pharmaceutical value chain.

While China is on the path to recovery and is attempting to return to normalcy, India has many obstacles to overcome before it can successfully overcome the impact of the COVID-19 crisis. Restoring operations and recovering from the effects of the pandemic will cost the pharmaceutical value chain a substantial amount of time and effort due to this factor.

Logistics and Distribution Challenges

Countries across the globe have announced nationwide lockdowns and severely limited domestic and international transportation. Although this step was crucial for the containment of this deadly virus, it has led to major logistical challenges across industries. The pharmaceutical value chain has been similarly impacted due to transportation and distribution limitations.

The fragmented nature of the pharmaceutical value chain is one of the reasons the transportation restrictions are impacting the industry severely. The process involves the procurement of various raw materials from different locations in the APAC, North American, and European regions. Additionally, the manufacturing, packaging, distribution, and retailing are conducted in various areas. With the continuous spread of the virus and government restrictions on population movement and transportation, pharmaceutical companies need to evaluate their distribution and logistics strategies to maintain business continuity.

Paused Clinical Trials and the Drug Development Process

A large number of clinical trials worldwide have been suspended, postponed, or halted since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. Stakeholders consider this the most impacted segment in the pharma industry. Due to the need for social distancing, the limitations on transport, and the requirements of new hygiene protocols, conducting clinical trials and collecting real-world evidence has been challenging for pharma companies. The halting of clinical trials translates into a delay in the development and time-to-market for various therapies and drugs.

Simultaneously, pharmaceutical companies are struggling to conduct clinical trials to develop a vaccine for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19. However, they face challenges finding ideal candidates and carrying out their clinical trials despite the various limitations. Pharma companies and governments are working towards digitalizing the clinical trial process with innovative alternatives such as telemedicine and mailing trial drugs. Efficiently digitalizing, and overcoming the various challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic will help companies develop a vaccine and fast-track recovery worldwide.

Understanding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the pharmaceutical value chain is a crucial step for recovery in the pharmaceutical industry. Request more information to gain more in-depth insights into the challenges caused by the pandemic and the next step to recovery.

How can Market Intelligence Solutions help Pharmaceutical Companies Overcome the Impact of COVID-19?

Pharmaceutical companies need a series of solutions to assist them in their attempt to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pharmaceutical value chain has been significantly disrupted through 2020, and by re-establishing normalcy soon, companies can minimize the long-term implications of the pandemic across the value chain.

Infiniti’s market intelligence solutions can provide companies with insights, guidance, and strategies to help their industry recover as quickly as possible. There are various crucial factors that pharma companies must focus on during the process of recovery, and Infiniti’s market intelligence solutions can help them adapt and recuperate as required. Our market intelligence experts can help pharma companies and the pharmaceutical value chain in the following crucial ways:

  • Companies
    must improve transparency on the various levels of the supply chain and
    identify alternative sources for the different raw materials or services that
    are unavailable. Infiniti’s demand planning solutions enable companies to
    provide visibility into their operations and supply chains required to make
    real-time decisions and keep stakeholders informed.
  • There is
    also an increasing need for companies to analyze their inventory, estimate the
    available inventory across the value chain, and attempt to continue production
    and delivery to customers. With Infiniti’s inventory management solutions,
    companies can try to fulfill customers’ demands despite the disruptions caused
    by the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Pharmaceutical
    companies must also focus on understanding and strategizing for the changing
    demands of their consumers. With social distancing and new hygiene protocols,
    consumers have been less likely to renew their prescriptions. Infiniti’s demand
    management solutions can enable companies to predict, plan, and meet customer
    demands accurately.

The pharmaceutical industry can successfully recover the pharmaceutical value chain with efficient planning, management, and strategizing. Infiniti’s market intelligence solutions provide companies with the data-driven insights and expert guidance they require to efficiently overcome the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic across the value chain.

Infiniti’s market intelligence solutions can serve as the differentiator between a quick recovery and additional challenges for companies attempting to recover the pharmaceutical value chain. Request a free proposal to enter the post-COVID era as a pharmaceutical industry champion with our expert insights and guidance.

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