Medical/scientific intelligence - Six-target competitive R&D assessment in diabetes

Background and objectives

Our client engaged us to support their efforts in a 6-target R&D assessment of the current and planned R&D diabetes treatment discovery landscape. KITs included:

• Current scientific development including status, approach and theories
• Clinical trial intelligence (phase 1 - phase 3)
• Product development road map
• Product lifecycle management strategy

Approach

A team of six research analysts was assembled to support the primary research efforts of the project.

Primary research efforts focused on KOLs, clinical trial partners and research scientists, as well as attendance at major medical conferences and symposiums. Project duration was three months.

Results delivered

• We were able to provide detailed intelligence concerning the development strategy for all six targets.
• We were able to provide detailed clinical trial data on five clinical trials.
• We were able to gain detailed insight from KOLs concerning the various development strategies of the targeted competitors.
• We provided a SWOT analysis of the client's development strategy in comparison to the targeted competitors.
• We provided a detailed development timeline for each competitor which provided the client with an effective and efficient benchmarking tool.

Merger and acquisition intelligence - Intelligence on target company as part of due diligence

Background and objectives

Our client, in association with a leading investment banker, was targeting a company that had a Low Molecular Weight Heparins (LMWH) in a late stage of development, with a view to a potential take-over, without alerting the target.

• Primary requirement was the assessment of the molecule for valuation
• Strength of their clinical trial and likelihood of successful registration and pricing potential
• Additional query to determine the realistic timeline for competing drugs' registration

Approach

Our approach focused on the clinical trial centres, lead investigators and CRAs:

• Multiple US and EU clinical and principal investigators were targeted
• Targets included limited number of personnel from the target company itself
• KOLs were approached to establish the status of competing compounds' development status

Results delivered

The output included all the priority 1 and 2 KITs

• Status of the clinical trial and early indication of end points
• Timelines for development
• Likely pricing scenarios
• Potential uptake scenario for valuation modelling

Conference intelligence - CI on clinical trials and emerging competitors

Background and objectives

Lifescience Dynamics was invited to undertake a competitive intelligence project in the area of hepatitis C, with a focus on clinical trials of our client's major competitors, as well as emerging competitors in their core product.

Approach

A conference for the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) was the platform for gathering intelligence:

• Two analysts attended
• Our analysts utilised information from presentations and posters, as well as using both direct and indirect questioning to answer the KITs
• Follow-up telephone interviews were also used to fill holes in intelligence and corroborate findings

Results delivered

Robust findings provided the insight our client needed, including:

• Therapy was evolving; new oral small molecule classes of drugs were seen as products of the future
• New players and new products had resulted in intense industry and analyst interest; analysts believed that the client, perceived to be a laggard, could maintain its franchise in this area only through a robust programme of licensing or acquisition.
• Key competitor had an aggressive phase IV trial programme but there was no marketing threat perceived until at least 2009/2010