At some point in its development, any growth-minded non-European biopharma company will look to Europe as a possible source of new opportunity.  Europe is attractive for various reasons, including its large population, high per-capita spend on healthcare, and vast market potential. But successfully entering Europe is a complex undertaking, and biopharma companies need to know …

Throughout this series, we’ve been discussing how the roles and expectations for the Medical Affairs function are evolving.  Various trends are driving this evolution, raising Medical Affairs’ profile within the biopharma enterprise.  Medical Affairs is becoming a central hub for generating insights that can inform strategic planning.  It’s also becoming a nexus for generating evidence …

At some point in its development, any growth-minded non-European biopharma company will look to Europe as a possible source of new opportunity.  Europe is attractive for various reasons, including its large population, high per-capita spend on healthcare, and vast market potential. But successfully entering Europe is a complex undertaking, and biopharma companies need to know …

At some point in its development, any growth-minded non-European biopharma company will look to Europe as a possible source of new opportunity.  Europe is attractive for various reasons, including its large population, high per-capita spend on healthcare, and vast market potential. But successfully entering Europe is a complex undertaking, and biopharma companies need to know …

When a biopharma company develops a new therapy, it’s not satisfied with simply getting market authorization in key geographies. Rather, a company wants to ensure broad, sustainable access and safe, confident use by healthcare providers (HCPs) that supports improved patient outcomes. To achieve these goals, it must consider the needs of a complex healthcare ecosystem …

There’s no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic brought major disruption to people across the globe.  Of course, it affected people’s health. But it also caused major shake-ups in people’s finances, as well as the ways in which they work, socialize, worship, and more –  impacting all facets of personal and public life. Interestingly, it also …

At some point in its development, any growth-minded non-European biopharma company will look to Europe as a possible source of new opportunity.  Europe is attractive for various reasons, including its large population, high per-capita spend on healthcare, and vast market potential. But successfully entering Europe is a complex undertaking, and biopharma companies need to know …

At some point in its development, any growth-minded non-European biopharma company will look to Europe as a possible source of new opportunity.  Europe is attractive for various reasons, including its large population, high per-capita spend on healthcare, and vast market potential. But successfully entering Europe is a complex undertaking, and biopharma companies need to know …

Blue Matter is proud to once again be listed by Firsthand / Vault as a Top 50 Consulting Firm in North America and a Top 25 Consulting Firm in EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa).  The full profiles and reports can be found here: North America EMEA

At some point in its development, any growth-minded non-European biopharma company will look to Europe as a possible source of new opportunity.  Europe is attractive for various reasons, including its large population, high per-capita spend on healthcare, and vast market potential. But successfully entering Europe is a complex undertaking, and biopharma companies need to know …

In part I of this series, we identified several trends that are driving big changes for the medical affairs function within biopharma companies.  On the whole, those trends are making the function more strategically important while simultaneously making its job more complex.  In this installment, we explore one of Medical Affairs’ most important responsibilities:  insight …

At some point in its development, any growth-minded non-European biopharma company will look to Europe as a possible source of new opportunity.  Europe is attractive for various reasons, including its large population, high per-capita spend on healthcare, and vast market potential. But successfully entering Europe is a complex undertaking, and biopharma companies need to know …

The Long Road of PDT Market Development With a very exciting 2021 and 2022 for prescription digital therapeutics (PDTs), a lot of people are asking: Are  PDTs on the verge of achieving “critical mass,” the point at which they truly scale up and achieve a sustainable level of market penetration in an environment conducive to …

We recently shared a look back on key trends that we had identified in 2021.  Based on January alone, 2022 appears to be heading towards being another very busy year for the oncology market, full of more innovation, competitive disruption, and regulatory intrigue! Our team has identified five key trends that we look forward to …

Early last year, our team produced a paper entitled Oncology Outlook 2021: Scientific breakthroughs and competitive breakouts.  It was a fun paper to write because it gave us an opportunity to broadly review the market landscape, identify key trends, and make some predictions for 2021.  Predictions are almost always fun, but they’re only valuable if …

It’s no secret that change is a constant companion for those who work in the biopharmaceutical industry.  That’s to be expected in any industry that thrives on innovation in the products it develops and the techniques it uses to develop them. Over the past few years, one function has been transforming at a dramatically accelerated …

Just over a year ago, we wrote a two-part series on the “quiet revolution” that’s going on in CNS therapies (access part I here and part II here).  The exciting developments in oncology may be grabbing the headlines, but very interesting things are happening in CNS and much of it has flown just under the …

In early November of 2021, COMPASS Pathways released phase IIb data on its psilocybin-based therapy for treatment-resistant depression. Varun Renjen, M.D., leader of our CNS team, talks about this data and its implications for COMPASS (and for psychedelics in CNS therapy overall).

Introduction Over the last decade, advances in cancer care have measurably improved overall survival, and specifically in disease areas with previously high unmet needs such as non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and melanoma1. Importantly, this increased survival is driven by a shift of more patients into two key categories of treatment outcomes: Cure: Defined here …

At some point, any growth-minded non-European biopharma company will look to Europe as a possible source of new opportunity.  Europe is attractive and offers vast market potential. But successfully entering Europe is a complex undertaking.  The stakes are high and there are many pitfalls to avoid.  In this series of articles, we’re outlining the 12 …

At some point in its development, any growth-minded non-European biopharma company will look to Europe as a possible source of new opportunity.  Europe is attractive for various reasons, including its large population, high per-capita spend on healthcare, and vast market potential. But successfully entering Europe is a complex undertaking, and biopharma companies need to know …

At some point, any growth-minded non-European biopharma company will look to Europe as a possible source of new opportunity.  Europe is attractive and offers vast market potential. But successfully entering Europe is a complex undertaking.  The stakes are high and there are many pitfalls to avoid.  In this series of articles, we’re outlining the 12 …

At some point in its development, any growth-minded non-European biopharma company will look to Europe as a possible source of new opportunity.  Europe is attractive for various reasons, including its large population, high per-capita spend on healthcare, and vast market potential. But successfully entering Europe is a complex undertaking, and biopharma companies need to know …

As we’ve written many times before, Europe offers significant business opportunities for biopharmaceutical companies seeking to expand.  Collectively, European countries represent the world’s second largest market for branded pharmaceuticals, just behind the United States. With more than 500 million people and $140 billion in annual branded pharmaceutical sales, Europe can be highly attractive.  It offers …

Introduction Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a devastating disease, but recent therapeutic advances are delivering major benefits for patients, as well as driving competition in a complex market landscape. In Part 1 of our series, we reviewed the disease biology and therapeutic approaches currently marketed to treat SMA. Here, we look to the future and …

On September 9, 2021 at the MedInvest Neurological Diseases & Mental Health Disorders Conference, our own Varun Renjen moderated a panel discussion entitled, The Renaissance of Psychedelics in CNS Medicine.  This video includes the full panel discussion and the Q&A session following it. Thanks very much to all of our panelists for their expertise and …

In the 3rd video of our “My Blue Matter Experience” series, consultant Jose Quejada answers the following question: “What words of wisdom would you offer someone considering a career at Blue Matter?”

The Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) treatment landscape offers a compelling case study of how very different therapeutic approaches can be successful in alleviating a devastating rare disease, leading to a complex treatment landscape with continued opportunity for both improved patient outcomes and biopharma market success. Here in Part 1, we introduce the disease and its …

In this video, Jose Quejada describes what it’s like to work on Blue Matter consulting teams.  Jose is based in our NYC office and became a team member just over a year ago.  For him, three things stand out about the team dynamics at Blue Matter…

In this video, Jose Quejada describes the type of support and guidance he received when he first joined the Blue Matter team.  Jose is based in our NYC office and became a team member just over a year ago.  He sheds some light on what new team members can expect when they come on board.

The biotechnology industry is a booming sector with many new companies researching and developing innovative and specialized medicines. Typically, a startup biotech company will focus its limited resources on R&D and its market of origin (or some other region that’s strategically selected because of its large size and/or market potential).  For a US-based company, that …

Varun Renjen, M.D. describes how the recent decision to restrict Aduhelm’s label to earlier-stage patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) could be a good thing for Biogen’s new Alzheimer’s therapy. He also outlines three lessons for other pharma companies entering the Alzheimer’s market. Link here

The Digital Therapeutics (DTx) space is new and rapidly growing within the healthcare landscape (for a DTx 101: Intro and Overview, see here).  Biopharma companies should carefully consider their potential entry into this space, as their customers will be increasingly engaging with DTx products that have the potential to complement or even compete with biopharma …

Biogen’s Aduhelm® (aducanumab) is the fist potentially disease-modifying therapy approved for Alzheimer’s disease.  However, it could face some significant challenges as it goes to market. Varun Renjen, M.D., describes the three main ones in this short video. Link here.

On June 7, 2021, the FDA approved Biogen’s Aduhelm® (aducanumab) for Alzheimer’s disease.  As the first potentially disease-modifying therapy for Alzheimer’s, it could have some significant impacts on the market for Alzheimer’s therapies. Varun Renjen, M.D., outlines those potential impacts in this short video. Link here

Don’t miss this informative webinar on Tuesday, July 20 at 11:00 am EDT. Register here. Psychedelics and other traditionally taboo substances are undergoing a bit of a “renaissance” in central nervous system (CNS) therapeutics. These types of substances have a long and storied history around the world. Now, research into their potential therapeutic benefits is …

There is no shortage of disabling and deadly diseases in the world.  However, few match Alzheimer’s disease (AD) when it comes to sheer ability to cause fear and dread.  It’s not a rare disease.  In fact, it’s on the rise.  There is no cure (nor effective treatment yet) and it’s ultimately fatal.  And, most frightening, …

We gratefully acknowledge the contributions of Alyssa Manz, Ph.D. and Quinn Civik for their work on the data analysis which supports this publication. Each rare disease (RD) only impacts a relatively small population, and given the clinical breadth of these conditions, new RD product development may feel like forging a completely new path towards a …

In our previous paper, we discussed several trends shaping the European market access landscape. Here, we explore recent cross border collaborations in more detail. While the recent COVID response highlighted many challenges, payers are making (slow) progress on a range of ongoing or planned initiatives: Small groups of countries conducting joint healthcare technology assessment (HTA) …

Introduction Members of Blue Matter’s CNS team attended the Psychedelic Therapeutics & Drug Development Conference, a virtual event that took place May 4-6, 2021.  This event was particularly interesting to our team because we had just completed a white paper entitled “Taboo” Substances are Getting Another Look in CNS that explored the substances and companies …

Introduction Members of our CNS team attended the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) virtual annual meeting, which took place April 17-22. As expected, it was an interesting and useful event, full of industry therapeutics updates, clinical research data, scientific sessions, and educational courses presented in a series of virtual panels, posters, and fireside chats.  It …

Some of our Rare Disease team spent a day last week listening to patient experts and industry specialists in a series of virtual panels and fireside chats organized by the World Orphan Drug Congress. Amongst a wealth of interesting topics and a consistent focus on accelerating the delivery of rare disease (RD) therapies, a few …

Generating Evidence to Support Market Access Great evidence planning is the foundation to successful market access. While good pricing and negotiation strategies at launch are essential, pharmaceutical companies can dramatically reduce the effort and risk required by having the “right” data that payers are seeking. In this case, “an ounce of prevention is really worth …

Every day, the sun rises and the sun sets. Here’s another thing that’s almost as dependable: national payers in Europe are facing increased pressures on their healthcare budgets. Payers want to provide access and fund innovative treatments to improve patient care, but they need to do so in the context of constrained budgets. However, the …

Psychedelics and other traditionally taboo substances appear to be undergoing a bit of a “renaissance” in central nervous system (CNS) therapeutics these days.  These types of substances have a long and storied history all around the world.  Now, science is getting serious about exploring ways to use them to treat a range of diseases and …

At Blue Matter, we stand with the Asian American and Pacific Islander community and condemn all forms of hate, racial discrimination and violence.  We are deeply saddened by the horrific events that took place on Tuesday night near Atlanta, where the majority of those killed were Asian women.  The recent rise in racially motivated violence …

2021 will be a big year for emerging oncology therapeutics, as we anticipate major late-stage clinical advancements for several new modalities either reaching their first regulatory decision (e.g., TILs, TCR-T, first solid tumor bispecific antibody) or making the leap from newly emerging into more established with new targets or indications beyond their initial approvals (e.g., …

Blue Matter wishes everyone a very happy Women’s History Month – this is an opportunity to discover, document, celebrate and respect women’s lives and achievements. At Blue Matter, we support an inclusive and intersectional feminist work environment where women have the freedom, recognition, and right to be their own powerful selves. We are observing Women’s …

Throughout this series, we’ve covered a wide range of areas that biopharma companies must address if they are to succeed in the rare disease (RD) ecosystem including clinical trial design, clinical trial implementation, and ongoing evidence generation.  In this installment, we cover the important topic of market access. To help drive commercial success, a therapy …

2020 was a memorable year for some less-than-positive reasons, but even in the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic there were numerous oncology advancements well worth celebrating. In addition to the specific research and clinical developments described below, there was also the recent announcement by the American Cancer Society that cancer death rates have continued to …

The most effective, groundbreaking, and revolutionary therapy in the world will not do much good if it can’t be effectively delivered to patients.  That fact should be highly self-evident.  However, establishing an effective supply chain is easier said than done and there are a lot of potential pitfalls, especially when dealing with the diverse and …

If you’re a consultant who’s looking for your next big career move—or if you’re thinking about a career in consulting—then you’re probably doing a lot of research about what it’s like to work at Consulting Firm A vs. Consulting Firm B, C, and so on.  We’d like to make that process a bit easier for …

Last week, we reported that Blue Matter was ranked as one of the Top 50 consulting firms to work for in North America (#19).  Today, Vault released its rankings for Europe.  We’re thrilled to announce that we were ranked #11 among the best firms to work for in Europe, improving our position over last year! …

One year ago when we published an in-depth review of the cell-based immunotherapy landscape, no one could have predicted the global COVID-19 pandemic and its associated disruptions. But researchers, drug developers, regulatory agencies, clinicians, and patients all worked hard to ensure that the cell therapy field continued to advance and deliver promising new treatments in …

For the second time, Blue Matter has earned a spot in the annual Vault Consulting 50 list!  We’re excited to be ranked as one of the 50 best consulting firms to work for in North America.  Among all consulting firms surveyed, Blue Matter ranked #19, up from the #30 position last year.  Among boutique firms, …

So far in this series, we’ve spent a great deal of time looking backward.  In part 1, we discussed the “quiet revolution” that has been taking place in CNS over the past several years.  Interesting advances are being made in a range of CNS therapies while other areas, such as oncology, tend to get more …

In Part 1 of this series, we said that a “quiet revolution” has been taking place in central nervous system (CNS) therapies.  While much attention has been focused on the dramatic advancements in oncology, companies large and small have been focusing more resources on CNS research, and the pace of advancement is accelerating.  In that …

In the first three parts of our series, we introduced the rare disease (RD) ecosystem and its interconnected stakeholders. We also discussed the challenges and key considerations for RD clinical trial design – both (pre)registrational as well as ongoing evidence generation after the first approval. Here, we examine the practical considerations of successful clinical trial …

“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” Some readers might recognize that as a memorable line from the ‘80’s classic movie, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.  Those same readers might also ask what it has to do with central nervous system (CNS) therapies. In …

If you’ve been reading the various articles in our “People First” series, you’ve no doubt learned that fostering an open, inclusive, and diverse environment is ingrained in our culture.  It’s one of our core values and we hold ourselves accountable by including it in our regular Values Survey, which you can learn more about here. …

In Parts 1 and 2 of our series, we introduced the rare disease (RD) ecosystem as a uniquely interrelated set of stakeholders and discussed the key challenges and considerations for successful RD clinical trials. We focused on (pre)registrational clinical trial design, but of course regulatory approval does not mark the end of evidence generation. Here …

In Part 1 of our series we introduced the rare disease (RD) ecosystem, which is defined by a small patient population with often heartbreakingly high unmet need. Here, in Part 2 of our series, we will discuss in more detail the overarching design requirements and key considerations for RD clinical trials. The entrance of a …

A key part of building a People First Culture is making sure team members have the tools, training, and support they need to do their jobs.  But it doesn’t stop there.  At Blue Matter, People Development is essential to the success of our employees and our company.  We want to  help team members continually develop …

In an earlier article, we introduced readers to our quarterly Values Survey.  Our “People First” culture is incredibly important to all of our team members, and we work hard to maintain and continuously improve it.  That means staying true to our core values, which are based on a deep-seated desire to foster a happy, productive …

It’s a safe bet that anyone reading this article is familiar with the concept of an ecosystem. When we think of an ecosystem, we most often imagine how one exists in nature: a complex web of living organisms and non-living components (such as water, air, soil, rocks, and so on), all interacting with one another …

If you’ve been following along in this series of articles on Blue Matter’s People First culture, then you probably know by now that building a happy and motivated team is super important to us.  In fact, it’s in our core values.  After all, taking every reasonable step to ensure a happy team is the right …

In a previous article, Emily Hua described our People First culture and why It’s so important to us.  Today, I want to add a little more to the story by telling you about our Values Survey. Lots of companies out there will talk about their values.  However, not many are willing to truly measure whether …

If you’ve followed our blog for any length of time, you’ve probably noticed that we like to create high-value content on some of the leading topics in the biopharma industry.  Today, I want to shift gears and write a bit about Blue Matter as a company and its culture. We’re growing rapidly, always engaging with …

The Blue Matter Breakfast Club is an ongoing series of discussion forums (now virtual due to COVID-19), hosted by our team in Europe.  These forums are by invitation, bringing together leading executives from biopharma companies and other organizations to discuss critical business issues. The fifth Breakfast Club meeting took place on 8th July 2020.  The …

Six months ago, we published an in-depth review of the cell-based immunotherapy landscape, including forward-facing declarations of 2020 data releases, filings, etc. that would address key outstanding questions, namely: Six months later, despite the unprecedented and unanticipated impact of COVID-19 on corporate operations, clinical trial functions, and regulatory body decision-making, there have been multiple key …

It may come as no surprise that most of the charitable work Blue Matter does is in some way related to healthcare. Our focus as a company is, after all, on the life sciences.  However, sometimes we like to put our consulting skills to use outside of the healthcare space, in areas that speak to …

We are deeply outraged and shattered by the death of George Floyd, yet another death among too many horrific killings driven by racism and hatred.  We stand together with Black Americans and all those who are affected by systemic and learned racism. Our Blue Matter team—which is made up of talented people from more than …

The Blue Matter Breakfast Club is an ongoing series of two-hour breakfast forums, hosted by our team in Europe.  These forums are by invitation, bringing together thought leaders and executives from biopharma companies and other organizations to discuss critical business issues. The fourth Breakfast Club meeting was a virtual event on 13th May 2020.  The guest …

Last year, we wrote about our charitable work with a great non-profit organization, the Addario Lung Cancer Foundation (ALCF).  We’re proud to say that our work has continued with this organization.  However, things have changed over the past year, as the ALCF has merged with the Lung Cancer Alliance to form the GO2 Foundation for …

“Plans are worthless, but planning is everything.” That well-known quote comes from Dwight D. Eisenhower, 34th president of the United States and former Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in Europe.  It’s a pithy quote—though perhaps a little overstated—that highlights the critical importance of planning for any serious undertaking. For a biopharmaceutical company, the …

Introduction In previous articles, we explored several important aspects of rare diseases (RDs).  First, we showed how different authorities define the term “rare disease” (or “orphan disease”).  We also established a spectrum of rarity, ranging from those diseases that are considered common—with well-established treatment paradigms—to those that are “hyper-orphan,” affecting perhaps a couple of people …

Current Scenario: Challenges, Opportunities, and Critical Success Factors The current situation regarding COVID-19 is alarming.  At the time of publication, infection and death rates are continuing to rise rapidly in the United States, Spain, Switzerland, and many other European countries. In other countries like China, Italy, and Germany the situation appears to be resolving, but …

Many people working in and around the health care system and the biopharmaceutical industry use the terms “rare disease” and “orphan disease” on a fairly regular basis.  Obviously, they refer to any disease that’s uncommon, often with few treatment options (or no treatment options).  But what do these terms really mean? What’s the actual definition …

Location, Location, Location:  Most regard that as the first rule of real estate.  Simply put, it refers to the fact that a home’s value can vary dramatically based solely on its location.  Nice neighborhood with good schools, low crime, and beautiful tree-lined streets? In a place like that, a home will command a much higher …

In Part 1 of this series, we reviewed recent developments and upcoming milestones that are shaping the cell-based therapy landscape. Here in Part 2, we explore the various factors and challenges that will influence how each cell-based therapy—and the class as whole—will perform in the marketplace over the next few years. Some of these factors …

When a non-EU-based biopharmaceutical company decides to establish a presence in Europe, there are seemingly countless items that need to be managed, ranging from the highly strategic to the mundane.  One of the most important items is building the European team.  In the previous article, we outlined five ways in which hiring and recruiting differ …

“Our people are our greatest asset.” That statement is a time-honored cliché in the business world.  However, clichés typically come about for a reason: They’re usually true.  No biopharmaceutical company can move into Europe without recruiting and hiring talent there.  Obviously, those are essential steps to building a local presence anywhere.  In this installment of …

Rare vs. Specialty Diseases: Are They the Same? We’ve often been asked what the differences are between rare diseases and “specialty diseases” and/or rare cancers.  After all, these three types of disease share some similar characteristics.  For example, they’re often complex, require higher-cost and “higher touch” treatments, and a high degree of knowledge and specialization.  …

Basic and Essential For any biopharma company planning an initial move into Europe, there are myriad issues to address, as this series outlines.  One of the most important is ensuring that a company’s product(s) will be reimbursed by the various national payers that exist throughout European markets.  It’s a basic truth:  Payers are vital to …

Why a Europe-Tailored Strategy is Important When a biopharmaceutical company decides to enter the “European market,” it’s important to recognize that Europe is not really a single market.  Aside from having the European Medicines Agency (EMA) as common regulatory body, the European Union (EU) is actually a combination of 27 markets, each with a differentiated …

When entering European markets, a biopharma company must do a range of important things, many of which we will address throughout this series. In this installment, we cover two foundational elements of any European market entry that can set the commercial playing field for years to come.  They are 1.) Securing intellectual property (IP) protection …

Last year we examined cell-based therapies through both scientific and commercial lenses. Over the last year, the field has dramatically advanced beyond the recently approved CD-19 CAR-T therapies (KYMRIAH and YESCARTA) into novel cell types and designs with potential across tumor types. In this first part of a two-part series, we will review recent and …

The Blue Matter Breakfast Club is an ongoing series of quarterly two-hour breakfast forums, hosted by our Rare Diseases Team.  These forums bring together leaders from companies that develop and commercialize rare disease therapies to discuss critical business issues. The third Breakfast Club meeting was on 5th November 2019 at Skylounge restaurant in Zug, Switzerland.  …

About a month ago, we reported that Blue Matter was ranked as one of the Top 50 consulting firms to work for in North America (#30).  Obviously, we were excited about that.  Today, Vault released its rankings for Europe.  We’re thrilled to announce that we were ranked #12 among the best firms to work for …

Future Trends In Parts I and II of this series, we reviewed the dramatic diagnostic and pharmaceutical advances over the past 5 years that have rapidly enhanced the standard of care, leading to significant and essentially curative outcomes for some patients. In this article, we discuss the near-term future – the possibilities as well as …

This past weekend (31 August – 1 September), a team from Blue Matter took part in the South Coast Challenge to help raise money for cancer research.  Zeren Kocak, Linah Richer, Anwen Brown, Nafees Masri, Mariah Peixoto, and Magda Palczynska put on their hiking shoes and hit the trail to raise funds for Cancer Research …

For US-based biopharmaceutical companies seeking to expand, establishing a presence in Europe is usually an obvious next step.  Investors typically expect that a company will avail itself of such a large market opportunity and unlock the full commercial value of its assets. Europe represents the second largest market in the world for prescription pharmaceuticals.  The …

We are very excited to report that Blue Matter has joined the Vault Consulting 50 for 2020, earning a ranking as one of the 50 best consulting firms to work for in North America.  This was our first year participating in Vault’s annual survey.  Among all consulting firms surveyed, Blue Matter ranked #30.  Among boutique …

The weekend of 31 August – 1 September will be a busy one for Blue Matter team members Zeren Kocak, Linah Richer, Anwen Brown, Nafees Masri, Mariah Peixoto, and Magda Palczynska.  They’ll be putting on their hiking shoes and taking part in this year’s South Coast Challenge to help raise money for cancer research. The …

In Part I of this series, we identified and described four key trends in oncology: Novel Drug Targets and Classes of Therapy Novel Drug Designs Tumor Biology-Based Regimens Diagnostic-Driven, Adaptive Regimens: Precision Medicine Despite the significant advances these trends represent, much unmet need remains in oncology. In this installment, we outline some of those key …

Over the past 5 years, several ground-breaking advancements in oncology have dramatically advanced the standard of care. These new classes of drugs include the PD(L)1 checkpoint inhibitors, the PARP inhibitors, and the EGFR resistance targeted drugs.  Also included is a general trend towards more precise and targeted treatment decisions, driven by incorporating molecular tests and …

The Blue Matter Breakfast Club is an ongoing series of quarterly two-hour breakfast forums, hosted by our Rare Diseases Team.  These forums bring together leaders from companies that develop and commercialize rare disease therapies to discuss critical business issues. The second Breakfast Club meeting was on 17th June 2019 at Skylounge restaurant in Zug, Switzerland.  The …

Better integration of personalized cancer treatments into clinical practice will immensely improve outcomes for patients. But, to achieve the full potential of precision medicine, both pharma and diagnostics must accelerate and broaden their scope of precision medicine beyond their currently limited settings and ensure successful integration into clinical practice. In this installment, we will explore …

Over the past few decades in oncology, targeted therapies—and the tests that identify which tumors will be sensitive to them—have significantly advanced the standard of care in several key settings. However, precision medicine will not achieve its full potential in oncology without broader success in pharmaceutical and diagnostic development, and better integration of both into …

Recently, our Rare Diseases Team launched the Blue Matter Breakfast Club.  You might ask, “What is the Blue Matter Breakfast Club?”  Well, it’s an ongoing series of quarterly two-hour breakfast forums, hosted by our Rare Diseases Team.  These forums bring together leaders from companies that develop and commercialize rare disease therapies to discuss critical business …