The Bio-Pharmaceutical Industry: Analysis of the Evolving Impact of e-Enabled Technologies

This paper surveys key factors that impact bio-pharmaceutical drug development efficiency, productivity, and profitability. A central premise is that cycle time reduction drives all three indices. The clinical research process lags behind discovery, manufacturing, and marketing in achieving cycle time reduction outcomes. Greater integration of e-enabled technologies into the clinical research process will likely align its cycle time reduction outcomes with the other key components of drug development. The article next explores current views on issues that impact clinical research cycle time reduction adversely, outlines suggested methods for improving clinical research cycle time, and then underscores a developing conceptual approach to restructuring clinical research throughout the industry. Lastly, a conceptual model for clinical research is presented and recommended upon which a schema for integration of e-enabled technologies is superimposed. This model would enhance cycle time reduction and operational efficiency. The paper concludes by admonishing bio-pharmaceutical senior managers to foster e-technology adoption or undergo firm merger or acquisition.