Emerging markets new gate away for Medical devices!

Some years back I was doing research on emerging market based medical devices companies. From the early 90's I have seen a trend that Top 10 medical devices companies have been opening their shop, initially the R&Ds focus was to support the global R&D in terms of software and technology development, but then these companies shifted their strategies on making devices and software for emerging markets, whether its Philips innovation in china or GE with their devices for the Indian market. Medtronic also ventured into the race by plan of an R&D in China, and hope that it comes out with some innovation for emerging market

Social Media Bug........

Sanofi eyes diabetics with social media

In the past two weeks I have seen two news releases regarding Big Pharma like Bayer and Sanofi going for social media services to know their target audience with metabolic disease Diabetes.

Both the German and the French drug maker have found the social media as a very important tool and have found that social media serves as a useful windows into people perception which includes the patients, physicians, regulators, Kol's and the payers  

As the competition intensifies I hope social media will be able to create wonders for Pharma as it has lead to change in scenario in FMCG market segment

Gilead product life cycle extension Strategy..........

Last time I had refereed to interest of Merck in expanding its HIV portfolio and how difficult it will be for Merck to grown in this specific segment, I feel now the competition will be more tough as some 4 days back Gilead Sciences announced that it had entered into agreement for Collaboration on promoting access to high quality generic version of Gilead HIV medicine emtricitabine (FTC), and also its fixed dose in developing countries with Mylan labs (Hyderabad), Ranbaxy (Gurgaon) and Stride Acrolab (Bangalore)

Under the said agreement Gilead will provide technology transfer to these giants and further funding for process improvements to reduce overall manufacturing cost......Gilead has now safely positioned it in the high margin segment and low price strategy segment......Now Cipla will have difficulty in growing in the said specific HIV indication per say........Real good strategy of safeguarding its monopoly 

Europe- New Regulatory guidelines!

From my B. pharmacy days i used to follow FDA and their guidelines but America has to learn many things from the Europeans in terms of regulatory guidelines recently for which there is lot of discussion happening in NICE front for new regulatory development, where in Macro level involvement of specific groups have been initiated for decision making for approval of drugs, there is lot to learn from NHS (National health services) and NICE UK. Will it be possible in India to implement these all regulations?