The advantage of a diverse therapeutic pipeline
Frank Stramaglia discusses embracing technology and omni-channel marketing, employee engagement as a priority, and making compliance a company-wide responsibility (1200 words, 6 minutes)
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Frank Stramaglia says Astellas Pharma Canada Inc. is outgrowing its small pharma handle and becoming a mid-size player in the Canadian market. “The vision of our organization is to turn innovative science into value for patients,” says the company’s General Manager. “We don’t have roots on the generic side of the business. It really is just on the innovation side of pharmaceuticals.” During a recent episode of the NPC Podcast, Stramaglia highlighted the company’s strategies to foster innovation and drive growth within Astellas, which was the result of a merger between Yamanouchi and Fujisawa Pharmaceuticals in 2005.
Stramaglia says that when he started at Astellas, their R&D model was known as Category Leadership, and the organization aspired to lead in transplant medicine, oncology, and urology. However, management realized that being confined to specific areas hindered the company’s ability to find highly differentiated innovations as scientific advancements progressed. “When you marry yourself to swim lanes, you’re almost a victim of your own success,” he said.
Stramaglia [pictured below] says that to address this challenge, Astellas embraced a focus area approach. This revised R&D model involves identifying scientific and biological innovations and evaluating their medical applications. The teams then assess the unmet medical needs in these areas and explore opportunities to improve patient health outcomes. If these criteria align, they adopt the focus area and pursue it. As a result, Astellas’ R&D pipeline now covers diverse fields. The focus area approach allows the company to build adaptable capabilities, fostering long-term growth for the organization.
Stramaglia also described the transformative impact of technology in the healthcare industry. He believes customer expectations and needs are changing so rapidly that the only way for the industry to stay on top of those needs is by embracing technology. The emergence of new physician and healthcare provider groups has also changed expectations. Customers now seek instant access to information and desire the flexibility to obtain information at any time. He sees the omnichannel approach as a powerful vehicle to support and augment the interaction of representatives with physicians. “We’ve got to work with regulators, industry associations, and decision-makers to make sure that we can leverage the good that comes from advances in technology,” he said.
Stramaglia emphasized the significance of proactively shaping the company’s culture rather than allowing it to develop on its own. He believes a well-defined culture is essential to support the organization’s future health and growth. “The most important thing for a leader to do is to make sure employee engagement is at an all-high level and that the culture of your organization is intact,” he said. “Before you can get to strategy and execution, you have to have that as the foundation.” He also says that it is crucial to provide employees with clear examples of aligned and misaligned behaviours.
To address compliance concerns, Stramaglia described a shift in their organizational approach. He said the company has moved to a monitoring philosophy rather than an oversight one, empowering employees to follow the rules while taking intelligent risks. “We don’t need to babysit people,” he said. “We need to empower and create a compliance culture.” He advocates for a culture of responsibility and trust, where compliance officers play a supporting role, acting as compliance business partners who understand the organization’s objectives and provide guidance on compliance pathways.
THIS WEEK 08/08/23
Harm Reduction Therapeutics, a nonprofit pharmaceutical company, announced that the U.S. FDA has approved the company’s naloxone HCl nasal spray (OTC RiVive) for the emergency treatment of opioid overdose.
Health Canada is warning consumers about unauthorized Japanese-labelled drugs that it seized from T&T Supermarket in North York, Ont. These products are labelled to contain prescription drugs and may pose serious health risks.
The U.S. FDA has approved Octapharma USA’s prothrombin complex concentrate human-lans (Balfaxar) for the urgent reversal of acquired coagulation factor deficiency induced by vitamin K antagonist therapy in adult patients with the need for urgent surgery or invasive procedures.
A new study conducted by NordPass exposed the healthcare sector’s most common passwords. According to the findings, healthcare professionals tend to use very poor passwords to secure business accounts. Passwords such as 123456, password, and 12345 make it to the top of the list, despite cybersecurity experts urging businesses to take better care of corporate accounts.
This just in, from the world of book publishing: Friend of NPC Dr. Kwadwo Kyeremanteng, assistant professor at the University of Ottawa and a past speaker at the National Pharmaceutical Congress, has compiled advice for a happier and healthier healthcare system, with some lessons derived from the Covid pandemic. Unapologetic Leadership: Finding the Moral Courage to Do The Right Thing will be out next month. Learn more about Dr. K’s new work here.
LISTEN UP
In season 10 of the NPC Podcast, Shanil Ebrahim, Partner and National Life Sciences and Healthcare Consulting Leader at Deloitte Canada discusses improving healthcare literacy, expanding the use and integration of healthcare data, and public-private collaborations promoting equity in healthcare. Hear him in conversation with podcast hosts Mitch Shannon, Jim Shea and Mark McElwain.
HEALTHBIZ REWIND
This feature of NPC Healthbiz Weekly looks back at some of the most insightful moments from previous NPC Podcast episodes. In Healthbiz Rewind, you’ll read bold life sci predictions made during the renowned “Prognostication Korner” segment of the NPC Podcast.
Michel Lavoie
President
Dermtek Pharma
Pointe-Claire, Que.
Season 6, episode 06
Listen to this episode here
What bold predictions will you make about the life sciences industry during the coming 12 to 24 months?
I don’t know if I will make any predictions. Human beings have evolved over and over for thousands of years and medicines will continue [to evolve] year after year. It’s truly amazing how far we’ve come in such a short time. From discovering hydrocortisone to the latest medicines and therapies, it’s truly remarkable. I’m more optimistic than ever that the best is yet to come.
Register now for the 17th Annual National Pharmaceutical Congress on Wednesday, November 22, 2023
The 17th Annual National Pharmaceutical Congress will bring the best of Canadian Pharma together. The Congress will be held on November 22, 2023, at the Mississauga Convention Centre. As Canada’s most significant stage for leaders in the pharmaceutical industry, the Congress presents industry reflections, ideas, and innovations. The Congress is attended by more than 200 delegates annually and is an opportunity to learn, reflect, and network with the industry’s most prominent thought leaders and visionaries. Register now for 50% off.
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