TOM WILSON
Global Business Development Lead, Pfizer CentreOne , Collegeville, Pennsylvania, USA

Abstract

Ever tried to bake a cake without key ingredients? The outcomes are sure to be negative. In this piece, Pfizer CentreOne’s Tom Wilson builds on that analogy as it relates to pharma’s manufacturing and business models and the effects of disruptions in the supply of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). The industry’s goal is straightforward: get medicine to patients. If the supply chain is broken, critical medicine’s API supply is disrupted, and that essential promise can be broken.

PICKING THE PERFECT API PARTNER FOR AN IMPERFECT WORLD
Ever tried to bake a cake and realized you don’t have sugar? The outcomes are sure to be negative: frustration, anxiety, and likely plenty of disappointed cake lovers. Although simplistic, the analogy holds true as it relates to pharma’s manufacturing and business models and the effects of disruptions in the supply of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). The industry’s goal is straightforward: get medicine to patients.

Pharma is asking its API suppliers to supply API, on time, on target and ready for patients. When a critical medicine’s API supply is disrupted, if not rectified quickly, the consequences for healthcare and patient outcomes can quickly escalate.

HOPE IS NOT A SUSTAINABLE SUPPLY CHAIN STRATEGY
It has become clearly evident today’s supply chain challenges are neither temporary nor transitory. In response to COVID-related supply disruptions, the industry faced a drastic realignment of its business priorities. The pandemic turned everyone’s attention to attaining better operational risk profiles and many ...