Drug development checklist: What to look for in a commercialization partner

Long before any therapy goes to market, manufacturers must make decisions that will ultimately influence commercial success. In the early days of drug development, manufacturers are navigating the near-term logistics of patient recruitment, clinical trial participation, compliance with regulatory requirements, and data collection.

With the right commercialization partner involved from the start, manufacturers can feel more confident that the drug development process establishes the best possible foundation for market entry—even when that may be months or years away. 

It’s never too early to find the right partner.

1. Time-sensitive, temperature-controlled logistics for clinical trials 
   The right partner will offer: near-perfect execution of storage and transport solutions.
2. Reaching eligible patient populations for clinical trial participation 
   The right partner will offer: direct-to-patient solutions for in-home trials and access to specialty provider networks for hard-to-reach patient populations.
3. Data collection and clinical journey insights 
   The right partner will offer: a robust, scalable logistics platform with powerful inventory management, ordering, and tracking tools.
4. Ability to move treatments across borders
   The right partner will offer: global reach with local expertise on customs and credentials.
5. Comparator sourcing
   The right partner will offer: efficient access to (and transportation of) comparator products.
6. Navigating the regulatory process
   The right partner will offer: expertise in regulatory strategy, dossier authoring, submission preparation, and lifecycle management integrated with expert publishing and quality assurance solutions.
7. Ensuring drug safety and compliance with continually evolving regulatory requirements
   The right partner will offer: comprehensive pharmacovigilance and medical information services.

Even more to look for

 

More overarching factors matter, too, even beyond the development phase. Look for these “big picture” characteristics in a commercialization partner:

1. They put patients first, always. This is table stakes.
   But just saying the words doesn’t mean it’s true. Look for tangible actions, like investing in personnel and technology that meaningfully improve the patient experience.
2. They’re more than an aggregator of disparate services.
   Look for a partner with a truly integrated suite of commercialization solutions, instead of just someone who cobbles together disparate offerings.
3. They’re constantly seeking solutions for today’s healthcare challenges.
   Healthcare today is fraught with complexity, so find someone who can prove that they’re always on the hunt for solutions that work in real life. Asking how they’ve managed previous challenges can help tease out their appetite for troubleshooting.
4. They make actionable investments.
   Look for a partner willing to invest where gaps exist, from healthcare policy to technology.
5. They combine global reach with local know-how.
   The best partners demonstrate international reach along with local expertise. Large brands with localized field teams bring that balance to life.