Highlights from this quarter included data derived from questions asked for the first time in the Q1 survey, including the phases of development when outsourcing partners are engaged. The largest percentage (53%) partner at the Preclinical phase, with 49% at Discovery, 47% at Phase I, 39% at Phase II, 33% at Phase III, and 30% at Phase IV/Post-Launch. Recent strengthening of regulatory compliance as well as intellectual property laws in emerging markets has evidently increased the potential for Discovery outsourcing. Also new is the allocation of percentage points to the number of respondents who engage in the development of biologic-based therapeutic drugs (65%), as well as the proportion of their budget that is spent on biologics vs. small molecule (55% and 45% respectively).
Nice Insight also surveyed EU sponsors for the first time in Q1 2012 and reported on the location of those respondents’ businesses to offer greater perspective on the European market. Another new topic was therapeutic area of focus. In descending order, 36% of respondents identified cardiovascular diseases, 31% oncology, 31% infectious diseases, 28% metabolic disorders, 27% respiratory diseases, 24% endocrine diseases, 23% CNS disorders, and 19% cited their focus as ‘other’. Although these figures predictably reflect the major ailments and killers affecting large populations, the Nice Insight team expects this tabulation to influence the strategy decisions of many companies.
Perhaps the most significant point of note in the Q1 2012 survey results is a change in the categories ranked as industry outsourcing drivers. Accessibility was replaced in the ranking by Innovation. This new category joined the list in sixth place, with the top five this quarter recorded in order of priority as Quality, Reliability, Productivity, Regulatory Track Record, and Affordability. Quality and Reliability have ranked numbers one and two in all Nice Insight reports to date.
Key awareness trends show a continuing decline in companies recording low awareness among survey respondents, where respondents know little about the company other than recognition of the name and/or logo. Q1 2012 results showed only 7% of companies with a CA score lower than 40%, continuing last year’s downward trend from a high of 85% in Q1 to 22% in Q4. Kate Hammeke, Research Manager at Nice Insight, said “The shift in awareness trends is undoubtedly influenced by Nice Insight’s improved sampling techniques and expansion of the survey among emerging pharma and biotech. We’re pulling from a bigger pool, and smaller companies’ knowledge of the universe of companies is often broader.” Regardless of size, every company featured in the Nice Insight pool can lay claim to the fact that at least one respondent has worked with them.
It was significant that in Q1 2012, the Nice Insight survey sample size surpassed 3,500 outsourcing-facing pharmaceutical and biotechnology executives for the first time. Victor Coker, Director of Business Intelligence, said, “The size of the Nice Insight sampling comfortably supersedes other primary research in this market, which is a significant benefit of our product. We have seen 46% growth in a year and it’s a continuing trend.” From the most recent sample, 27% came from Big Pharma, 28% from biotechs, 19% from emerging, niche and start-up companies, 17% from specialty pharma, and 8% from emerging biotech.
Nice Insight quarterly intelligence products will be demonstrated by staff on booth #1072 at Interphex 2012 in New York City from May 1-3. Visit Nice Insight on the web at www.niceinsight.com.
For more information, contact:
Nigel Walker
Managing Director
That’s Nice LLC
Tel: +1 212 366 4455
Email: nigel@thatsnice.com
Website: www.niceinsight.com
Victor Coker
Director of Business Intelligence
Nice Insight
Tel: +1 212 366 4455
Email: victor@thatsnice.com
Website: www.niceinsight.com
About That’s Nice LLC
That’s Nice is a full-service agency providing brand and marketing management with value-added business support. Its brand represents years of knowledge in client markets, a passion for strategic thinking and comprehensive services that meet the needs of global companies.
