A market opportunity study

Background and objectives

Our client wanted to understand the market potential for a biological in its primary target indication of psoriasis in the top six markets. Main research objectives were related to gaining deep understanding of awareness, perceptions of current drugs, unmet needs, potential usage of a biologic, opportunities and barriers to administration, and ideal product profile.

Approach

We took a two steps approach:

• Secondary research: current market analysis, epidemiology, audit of future pipeline
• Qualitative research:
  • 15 in-depth interviews per market, with quantification from five patient record forms per respondent.
  • We also interviewed 10 payers and insurance company personnel.
  • We tested product concepts using the Juster scale to compute peak share for modelling forecasting.

Results delivered

Report presentation and strategic recommendations focused on:

• Market understanding, patient segmentation and target segments for client's drug
• Unmet need and opportunity for our client's product
• Ideal product profile

A communication study: creative concepts and detail aid testing

Background and objectives

We were asked to test creative concepts and detail aids. The objective of the research was to test communication of the following key messages:

• X anti-perspirant is clinically effective on axillary hyperhidrosis, and provides complete relief from arm pit sweating under normal conditions including:
  • Cool clothing
  • Avoiding foods that trigger sweating
  • Reducing stress, tension or anxiety
  • Increased attention to personal hygiene
• It is fast acting and has a long duration
• It is superior to aluminium chloride which is the active ingredient of some roll-on or aerosol anti-perspirants
• It is safe and well tolerated
• Detail aid:
  • Obtain reactions to the detail and detail aid
  • Effectiveness in getting across communication objectives messages, message flow, credibility, relevance to practice and clarity in targeting all patient types and competitors
  • To establish whether detail aid offers new information which will motivate dermatologist's usage intentions
  • Identify any objections to the messages (specifically front page set-up)
  • Suggest improvements for both detail aid and communication of detail aid by sales force
• Advertisement concept:
  • Confirm that refinements made since the last round of concept testing are on target
  • Confirm whether it is effective at communicating the brand's key messages (i.e. complete relief), and if this is a unique proposition (i.e. lid swelling)
  • Establish whether headlines/taglines together with visual are communicating effectively: whether copy/bullet points/strap lines are compelling/attention-grabbing, credible and consistent with communication objectives

Approach

We conducted 10 IDIs using neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) and other projective techniques with self-completion (using very experienced NLP trained moderators). Respondents recruited on the basis of pre-defined screening criteria:

• Predominantly work in private-only or group practice
• Are very experienced
• Have completed, on average. 18 years in the practice
• Half had been in the practice for more than 20 years
• They see and treat a relatively high number of patients per quarter during the summer season
• They are relatively set in their ways and traditional, but welcome new products
• They mainly use older established products

Results

• Overall reaction to creative concepts with positives and negatives for each concept
• Overall reaction to detail aid as listed below:

Patient insight via ethnography

Background and objectives

Our client aimed to gain insights and deep understanding of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and care givers, including:

• Fears and hopes of living with a condition, current life situation, limitations and emotions caused by their disease
• Unmet needs through communication about their particular situation and their informational requirements
• Patient segmentation based on needs

The study involved seven countries: the USA, Canada and five in the EU

Approach

We proposed an ethnographic approach, in two subsequent steps:

• Ethno interviews with patients:
  • Respondents were required to write a 7-day diary describing everyday challenges, difficulties etc., and to collect photos/pictures/images to show emotions and feelings
  • A full day observation with an in-depth interview followed in order to probe relevant aspects and video record the most representative situations
• Focus group discussions with patients and carers to discuss communication needs and expectations

Results delivered

• Report and recommendations expanded with pictures and images submitted by the respondents to give the client a vivid taste of their experiences
• Areas covered in the report included:
  • Top challenges in living with RA, key feelings and emotions of patients and care giver
  • Differentiating variables and patients' needs based segmentation
  • Patients' support: current, expected and ideal
  • Information gaps, communication style

Paediatric vaccines in BRIC/emerging markets

Background and objectives

Lifescience Dynamics was invited to investigate opportunities for expansion of our client's paediatric vaccines in Brazil, Russia, India, China, Mexico and Turkey.

Objectives included market understanding, pricing points in the private market, concept testing and development of ideal product profiles.

Approach

Key opinion leaders, policy makers and influencers, front line doctors and parents were interviewed in the target market.

• Research was conducted in person and over the phone

Results delivered

• Burden of influenza disease and seriousness of influenza in young children
• How clinical trials should be set up
• Barriers to vaccination included
• Price points prophylaxis for national coverage via government initiatives
• Key decision makers for vaccinations: government guidelines, family practitioners, paediatricians, nursery entrance requirements, family elders and parents
  • Price points prophylaxis for where both parents work as well as where only one works

Prescription and drug switching dynamics in oncology

Background and objectives

Lifescience Dynamics was commissioned to carry out a patient diary study in multiple myeloma. Our client had a chemotherapy product and its sales were not matching their expectations. They wanted to understand the market at a granular level to diagnose the low sales issue. The objectives included measuring the frequency of behaviours and results within the key steps (brand choice and re-initiation) in the treatment decision process:
In addition they wanted to know:

• Why patients "leak" or drop-out?
• What are the clinical patient characteristics that influence treatment choice?
• Where are the high value opportunities in terms of potential our product?

Approach

We designed a qualitative phase with focus groups and IDIs to understand and catalogue all parameters for decision making in different stages of cancer in both treatment native and pre-treated patient groups.

This helped us to design pre-coded field materials for an on-line survey in the USA and EU5 markets in the form of a 30 minute patient medical note collection.

Results delivered

Our report covered all the objectives of such patient referral patterns for un-diagnosed and diagnosed patients. It included data analysis (according to analysis plan) such as switching and churn rates, conclusions and recommendations.

• Market dynamics simulation model from conjoint
  • The resulting perceptual model is held in an Excel-based modelling structure developed by Lifescience Dynamics which, given its user-friendly Windows interface, was supplied to the client for their own internal use in future model simulations with minimal training.
  • The Excel-based interface is vastly more user-friendly than the CBC simulation programme, yet more powerful because perceptions are incorporated into the model. There is, in fact, a facility for relative adjustment of current perceptions, as well as for the blanket imposition of new product alternatives.
• Patient record form database
• Most of the interpretation of the model structure relied on visual representation of the relationships discovered. To this end a 'results investigation tool' was developed by the LSD team and provided to the client.
• The tool was written in 'Visual Basic' and ran within Excel.
  • There was a front-end tool, which enabled the client's personnel to visualise graphical results from the mined data sets.
  • The tool consisted of user-friendly software, which is menu/buttons driven and easy to use with 'click and drop'.
  • The tool automated the graphing and reporting routines. It was possible to make graphical representation of various possible combinations of fields/attributes within the mined data set.

Single product

Background and objectives

Our client asked us to conduct a market analysis of polycystic kidney disease (PCKD) for a product in their portfolio and wanted a forecast for the top six markets for their product.

Approach

We used a multiphase methodology to cover public domain information which was supplemented by primary market research. The outputs from these two activities, such as epidemiology and key drivers fed into an Excel-based forecast. Our forecast used a Bass Diffusion algorithm to model new product (new technology) penetration. The forecast covered market size, growth, potential market penetration, volume and dollar sales for its product.

Results delivered

The deliverables included a PowerPoint slide report and an Excel-based forecast model. The report detailed all our key findings, analysis, forecasting approach, assumptions, findings and recommendations. The key findings had 'decision tree' for patient flows and referral patterns in each target market.

The model was interactive with an ability to forecast the size of the PCKD market over a period of 10 years, and the sales volume and sales revenue of the product in the top six markets. The forecast model was a custom written programme/tool provided for the client, with the relevant training and support (via telephone). The model allowed quick visualisation of data sets and easy changes of variables in the future.

P&R market assessment of therapy for moderate to severe psoriasis

Background and objectives

The overall objective was to understand and describe the current and forward-looking market in moderate to severe psoriasis.

• Description of market landscape:
  • Treatment algorithms and patient characterisation
  • Biologic market realities
• Evaluation of clinical and economic positioning
  • To provide viable pricing range for launch
• Assessment of the US and EU5 market potential for entry into psoriasis
  • To provide forecast and forecast model
• To support client's decision-making processes for development of commercially optimal pivotal trials
  • To include recommendations for trial comparators

Approach

We designed a four phase approach with forecast modelling:

• Secondary research including qualitative and quantitative data on epidemiology, broad patient segments and pipeline analysis
• Primary market research with KOL's and front-line dermatologists, utilising a patient diary approach
• Evaluation of pricing and reimbursement aspects of the psoriasis market, including the potential for client's two internal compounds, leading to a strategic plan - price points in each market and launch order for EU5
• Integration of all materials into a forecasting model designed to evaluate market potential for our client

Results delivered

We provided a complete picture of the market place and market positioning for two products at two price points. We also provided a pricing and reimbursement strategy and recommended a comparator for head-to-head trial. And finally we provided market research, patient record form data and forecast model for the top US and EU5 markets.

Product lifecycle management - Optimising the current and future ophthalmology franchise with a portfolio strategy in the face of impending generics

Background and objectives

The client, a top 10 pharmaceutical company, engaged us to undertake a strategy evaluation and formulation project taking into account pending generic threats facing ophthalmology franchises.

The key challenges facing our client were as follows:

• The optimal strategies for maximising short-term sales of the existing products may not be consistent with the long-term objectives of the portfolio.
• As market leading products in the X market, Z and Y will be important reference products for new products in development. This suggested that it is important to maintain the price of the brands as far as possible.
• However, it was also important to maintain a strong presence in the ophthalmology market as a platform for the new products. This necessitated targeted price reductions to maintain market share.
• In most markets, loss of patent is expected to occur at a similar time to the launch of the first new product. In some cases the exact timing of launch (following reimbursement negotiations where needed) relative to generic entry may be critical.
• The issue was more pressing in two European markets where generic entry could be significantly earlier than the launch of the new product.
• Price reductions in these two European markets in response to generic entry, may be optimal for those markets, but may have a knock-on effect through referencing pricing or parallel trade in other EU countries with longer patent life.
• In the US the client faced a particular challenge with the loss of patent of a competitor product in a different class but of a direct competitor. The possible implications for our client's product X and Y's volume, and to assess measures taken by ABC needed to be understood and strategies required to deal with these.

Approach

This was a large project lasting eight months with multiple phases, advance analytics, analogue modelling, competitive intelligence on generic companies, quantitative market research to measure brand equity, payer research to develop a pricing strategy for the follow-on product, and finally modelling of various strategies and tactics at country level as well as global ROI analysis.

• Intelligence about likely generics (Stages 1A, 1B 1C and 1D)
• Impact of generics on brand price and share based on country systems analysis and analogues (Stages 1C, 1D)
• Assessment of the pricing opportunity for new products (2C)
• Payer research: this tested the likely response from physicians in an environment where generic X and Y were available (2A).
• Primary intelligence: this tested the likely response from generic manufacturers; their interest and capabilities to manufacture and distribute copies or APIs of our client's product.
• Primary quantitative research: to provide the team with robust quantitative numbers for forecast modelling of revenue, and produce a market share simulations model for current products, and to measure brand equity of X and Y brands with ophthalmologists.

Results delivered

There were outputs from each activity, such as CI, which highlighted "intense" generic competition and MR "low" brand equity.

We delivered at each milestone, finally delivering global and regional strategic options of viable strategies, looking at all options, such as:

• Manufacturing
• Generics launches
• Reformulations
• Bridging
• Value enhancement

We also undertook a roadshow workshop for each of six markets and provided a template and guidance to co-ordinate strategies and tactics. All options were backed up by financial models.