COVID-19 has introduced new challenges (and more attorneys) into the biopharma deal-making environment, but experts say the fundamentals for deal activity point toward a rebound. Companies that adapt quickly to changes – in communication, due diligence and deal structure – will make successful connections in a time of social distancing.

The pharmaceutical industry is more diverse today in terms of nationality and culture. However, there is still a lack of other types of diversity, which blocks the proactive inclusion of different perspectives. Raafi-Karim Alidina, a consultant with global diversity and inclusion consultancy Frost Included and the co-author of Building An Inclusive Organisation, shares his thoughts. 

With the World Health Organization pressing for an inquiry into the coronavirus pandemic, it is clear that lessons must be learned for how future global public health emergencies must be handled. Medical technology has played a key role in halting the speed of the pandemic, but why has it taken an episode like COVID-19 for medtech’s true value to be recognized? ZS principal Brian Chapman says things must never go back to where they were.

Adoption of telehealth services has skyrocketed during the coronavirus outbreak and US experts are expecting the trend to continue post-pandemic, fundamentally transforming health care.

Opportunities in the cardiometabolic field are increasing, following a period of limited investment from larger biopharma players. Still, challenges remain, such as accessing funding at the earlier stages of development. 

Taking over at the Swiss firm as CEO in 2018, Vas Narasimhan set about creating an "inspired, curious and unbossed organization." Two years on, he has put the spotlight on several initiatives that are up and running on a number of fronts to achieve that goal.