Mike Hennessy Jr.

's August issue homes in on a plethora of different topics, ranging from alternate funding programs (AFPs) to the importance of prioritizing patient centricity in the pharma supply chain. However, one focal point in our latest issue surrounds pharma wholesalers and, fresh off the pandemic, a glimpse into the key business trends and challenges today for these essential distribution partners.

In his feature, Editor Emeritus Nick Basta explores the 

 in operations, technology, and service diversification by the “Big Three” distributors in the space: AmerisourceBergen/ Cencora, Cardinal Health, and McKesson. He also reminds readers that as enormous as these wholesalers are—ranked No. 11, 14, and 9 on the 2023 Fortune 500 list, respectively—they operate on the narrowest of profit margins—less than 1%. Basta reports that a shifting R&D investment climate among drugmakers is squeezing margins all the way across the distribution chain. And in a guest piece this month, Archbow Consulting’s Rob Besse notes that "every aspect of the pharmaceutical supply chain is under tremendous pressure to lower costs and increase margins." To that end, for pharma, Besse presents the case for using an 

to potentially meet manufacturers' financial, operational, and logistical needs without adversely affecting patient needs.

Highlighting other coverage this month is Ed Schoonveld's “Value and Access” column, where he explores the disconnect between the corporate communications message and actual internal company processes when it comes to prioritizing patients and value in drug development. Schoonveld also lays out the case for a new addition to the Big Pharma C-suite: a 

. Speaking of columnists, Bill Roth of IntegriChain begins his "

" series of articles by discussing various bundle-types affected by the trendline on the demise of new-item generics, along with the impact of the inability for generic manufacturers to raise prices. For readers seeking a broader subject matter, in her “In Focus” feature, Contributing Editor Suzanne Shelley details how a 

 for drug adherence, harnessing digital tools and behavioral science, can help patients and improve clinical and financial outcomes for manufacturers.

— Mike Hennessy Jr., President and CEO, MJH Life Sciences

Articles

The August issue varies in subject matters, from the outlook for drug wholesaling to the value of a user-centric approach for drug adherence.

Telling the 'Whole' Story

’s June issue homes in on a variety of subjects, headlined by the ongoing changes impacting today's new-look pharma sales force. Factors explored include the industry's learning curve in digital adoption; hybrid selling; sustainable travel initiatives; and efforts to reduce operational costs. In his feature, Editor Emeritus Nick Basta points to “

” as the latest hot trend in this area, with the most notable example being ChatGPT. When it comes to technology driving sales force trends, a Numerof & Associates survey finds that 85% of respondents agree that “digital content and virtual meetings will remain significant components of the customer engagement model, even if access restrictions [some of which were imposed during the pandemic] are relaxed.”

Sustainability, on its own, continues to be an evolving and closely watched topic as well. In this issue, guest contributor Richard Peck shares what he thinks are realistic goals for the industry in achieving 

 across the supply chain. The goal, he notes, is to find the optimum balance between operational efficiency, product protection, and sustainability.

Taking a dive into the regulatory aspect of pharma—specifically market access and pricing—Ed Schoonveld details the latest in the implementation of the 

 in the US, including questions arising such as how the negotiated price will be set by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

On another note, comprising this issue’s “In Focus” feature, Contributing Editor Suzanne Shelley offers readers an overview of the 

—a therapeutic category projected to rank the fourth highest in terms of global spending by 2027. Breakthrough drugs have helped to transform this space as of late, including the approval last year of Camzyos, the first and only therapy approved in the new cardiac myosin inhibitor class for the treatment of obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (oHCM), which is considered the most common hereditary CVD.

It’s amazing to think that we are already halfway through 2023! We hope you enjoy this issue, and look for plenty more noteworthy content ahead. Thanks for reading.

The publication's June installment features a plethora of coverage, ranging from the learning curve in digital adoption to an overview of the CVD market. 