Unlocking the potential of collaboration between pharma and research

The Indian healthcare industry is anticipated to register a CAGR of approximately 30.70% between FY2022 and FY2027.

In today’s rapidly evolving world, collaboration has indeed emerged as a crucial driving force and a vital tool for growth. Whether it is in the realms of business, technology, or creative endeavors, successful collaboration has the power to drive innovation, foster diverse perspectives, and achieve remarkable outcomes. The healthcare industry is no exception and can benefit from collaboration to make groundbreaking discoveries and achieve transformative outcomes. By collaborating, pharmaceutical companies, research institutes, and healthcare service providers can boost the overall outcomes in India’s health landscape.

These three verticals contribute immensely to driving accelerated innovation and drug development while also revolutionizing how the healthcare universe operates. As a result, the collaborative approach helps in addressing and mitigating diverse challenges confronting the healthcare ecosystem by offering more efficient and comprehensive solutions.

Advantages of Collaboration

In the past, collaborative efforts have led to faster delivery of novel therapies, quicker drug development, and better healthcare outcomes. Consequently, the Indian healthcare industry is anticipated to register a CAGR of approximately 30.70% between FY2022 and FY2027.

Nonetheless, although collaboration provides tremendous opportunities, it comes with its distinct set of challenges. For healthcare collaborations to continue seamlessly, it is imperative to ensure a transparent framework and clear segregation of roles and responsibilities that prevent potential conflicts.

Research and development are one sphere where collaboration offers significant benefits. By partnering with research institutions, pharma companies can fund as well as conduct clinical trials, which play a key role in determining the efficacy and safety of new drugs and novel treatments. Furthermore, it is only via collaborative efforts that the industry will succeed in advancing the boundaries of medical knowledge and expanding the therapeutic alternatives for patients.

Considering the above benefits, biopharma companies are collaborating actively with multi-stakeholders in the healthcare value chain to surmount scientific and technological barriers, which aim to augment R&D efficiency, ensuring quicker deliveries of novel patient treatments. Through strategic alliances and public-private partnerships, large-scale clinical trials are being undertaken more efficiently, generating healthy evidence vis-à-vis the safety and efficacy of new therapies. The coronavirus pandemic saw examples of such partnerships that benefitted the public at large in India.

The emergence of the patient voice in shaping healthcare around their needs has been recognized by pharmaceutical companies, healthcare providers, and other entities. Therefore, collaboration becomes a key that helps to bridge the gulf between fundamental scientific discoveries, clinical applications, and practical solutions that leads to personalized treatment options according to the specific needs and preferences of patients.

Moreover, well-informed healthcare providers can lend a unique perspective to all collaboration efforts, promoting better patient satisfaction levels and greater healthcare efficiency. Collaborative initiatives also help in spreading higher healthcare awareness among the masses. This can lead to enhanced outcomes by debunking healthcare myths such as those related to COVID vaccines as well as other misconceptions.

Overcoming Collaboration Challenges

Presently, the pharma industry faces diverse challenges concerning quality control, drug approvals, supply chain hurdles, and intellectual property rights issues, all of which call for careful consideration. By supporting a culture of open communication, greater trust, and higher transparency, most challenges can be easily eliminated or managed to a large degree.

Dr. Ruchi Sogarwal,
Director of Corporate Affairs
Takeda Biopharmaceuticals India Private Limited.

The establishment of proper protocols and clear guidelines that safeguard the interests of all stakeholders is indispensable for ensuring sustainable and successful partnerships. Besides, given the dynamic nature of the healthcare industry and the plethora of innovations and novel discoveries that occur periodically, all players must remain receptive to change, as and when required by circumstances. That is the only mantra to retain relevance in an ever-evolving industry landscape.

In summation, tripartite partnerships among pharma, research, and healthcare entities are necessary to maximize the potential of India’s healthcare industry. By combining resources, knowledge, and expertise, all three segments can propel innovation and improve patient care while contributing to better healthcare outcomes. Considering the varied advantages of collaboration, all three stakeholders should actively advance opportunities to work in tandem for the common cause of the masses.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ET Edge Insights, its management, or its members

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