An open call for innovation

There is a bright future ahead for open innovation in pharma, as Almirall executive vice-president, research and development chief scientific officer Karl Ziegelbauer explains.

Innovation is the lifeblood of the pharma industry. Companies depend on this progress to develop new product offerings and drive revenue, while patients rely on the treatment outcomes of innovation projects.

Open innovation examples appear throughout the history of pharma; however, the industry’s highly competitive nature has fostered a siloed environment where drug developers and academic researchers operate separately.

The arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic threw the topic of industry partnerships into the spotlight as key players across the healthcare field (as well as a number of cross-industry volunteers) began to collaborate in the race to counteract the impact of the virus.

Having witnessed the efficacy and financial benefits that pooling resources can facilitate, key players across the global healthcare industry are warming up to the idea of working together to develop new treatments.

• Read the full article in pharmaphorum's Deep Dive digital magazine