Brand owners are legally responsible for the safety, efficacy and quality of their products
By: Daniel R. Matlis, President
The globalization of life science products has created unique opportunities and demanding challenges for both industry and regulators.
The globalization and outsourcing of life science products began in the late 1990s. At the time, life science companies began to evaluate their core competencies and decided to outsource non-core competency functions. The primary reason for this trend was to lower costs.
Globalization has also opened new markets for life science products worldwide, with emerging economies representing fresh markets. Concurrently, issues with supply chain security became the responsibility of all parties involved in the procurement/sourcing, manufacturing, packaging and distribution of raw materials, intermediates, and final product to deliver safe and effective medicines to customers.
Recommendations for a New Supply Network Paradigm
Supply chain dynamics are prompting life science companies to seek innovative approaches that improve product safety while simultaneously enhancing clinical outcomes, reducing costs and risks, and ensuring regulatory compliance. To attain the sustained benefits of globalization, the life science products ecosystem must implement a new paradigm to manage global supply chains.
Companies must implement new strategies while proactively reducing and controlling risks. This calls for changing the business, technology, and regulatory models traditionally used in the industry. The three key components to managing this shift are on-demand visibility, supply network control, and collaboration.
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