Posts by Akimbo Health

Health inequities persist globally, affecting low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs) as well as ‘developed’ nations such as the US and EU. In response, numerous pharmaceutical companies have initiated health equity initiatives and investments. Organizationally, these endeavors often operate independently, housed in dedicated segments of the organization distinct from the commercial core business units. This shows the challenge…

At Akimbo, we define commercialization as successfully getting a product to patients in need worldwide. We argue that it’s the primary purpose of any life sciences company and should guide entrepreneurs from day one (if the goal is not to bring a new treatment to patients, then why start a biotech company in the first…

Identifying patients has always been a traditional challenge for companies focusing on rare diseases. Early pioneers in the rare disease space, such as Shire or Genzyme, had dedicated ‘patient finders’ who tirelessly navigated the healthcare professional (HCP) landscape, reaching out to general practitioners and actively seeking potential patients. However, in recent years, advancements in technology…

Virtual meetings have become a daily occurrence, filling our schedules from morning till evening. Unfortunately, most meetings end up being, let’s face it, quite boring. This equally applies to brainstorming sessions and workshops that aim to be engaging but end up being just an extended version of the typical Zoom call. As a result, people…

Medical tourism has been a long-standing practice that emerged due to the necessity of seeking healthcare services outside of one’s country, often due to insufficient local healthcare options. This is frequently associated with an out-of-pocket payment model, where patients cover the treatment costs themselves, limiting access to a small fraction of individuals. In the case…

A major impact fund recently expressed their decision to cease investing in emerging healthcare businesses in developing markets, citing the immense difficulties involved. The healthcare industry has always been characterized by complex regulations, lengthy development timelines, high risks, and challenging monetization prospects. While this complexity holds true in developed countries, it is even more pronounced…

Many emerging biotechs plan to partner with large pharma companies to advance their innovative portfolios, recognizing the challenges of building commercial and clinical development organizations from scratch. The potential issue with this approach is that the biotech’s ability to progress becomes highly reliant on another company’s willingness to make a deal, which is subject to…

Developers of innovative pharmaceuticals often face the challenge of healthcare systems that are not optimally designed to support the commercialization of their products. Advocacy, public affairs and policy shaping efforts aspire to address those challenges and drive change. In planning for the introduction of a new product, it is important to decouple aspirations regarding systemic…

The emergence of cell and gene therapies (CGTs) in the last decade has been one of the most captivating advancements in the field of life sciences. Chronic and fatal diseases that were once incurable can now be treated with a single administration. This almost resembles science fiction. While there have been numerous challenges to overcome…

In this decade, a significant revenue challenge awaits many leading pharmaceutical companies, as approximately half of the world’s top 20 drugs are expected to lose patent protection. To bridge this revenue gap, the industry will rely on new “blockbuster” launches. As a result, some of the leading pharma companies are starting to move away from…