Portfolio Management and Development

Context: A major biopharmaceutical company was faced with the impending patent expiration, ‘patent cliff,’of its blockbuster monoclonal antibody (mAb) for a range of autoimmune indications. The situation represented a major source of shareholder concern, and risked large capital expenditures – including product specific manufacturing facilities – being underutilised. Company senior management engaged IPAV to explore opportunities to leverage the company’s significance product specific experience in defending against the competitive threat of biosimilars.

Solution: IPAV reviewed historic clinical and reimbursement data for the product and identified patient non-adherence as a major challenging in achieving optimal patient outcomes and payer value. IPAV worked with trusted strategic partners in patient adherence programmes and direct to pharmacist:patient messaging to design a bespoke and low cost adherence programme that clearly differentiated the existing branded therapeutic against impending biosimilar competition.

Outcome: Patient and clinician preferences for the original branded therapeutic grew significantly, increasing product sales in the periods both pre and post marketing of biosimilars, thus securing a critical revenue source for the company. IPAV is now working with the company to leverage its experience for other products throughout its portfolio, and to bolster risk management plans (RMPs) for candidates in late stage clinical trials.