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The life science industry by nature carries a multitude of inherent risk. The board of directors and executive body must address risk management on a continual basis, meeting constant demands stemming from partners, insurers, physicians, patients, lawyers, and media. As need arises, added complexity and heightened risk can overlap these issues, creating a more difficult environment for overall efficient company management.

Because of the nuances involved in the life science industry, you must take appropriate precautions to identify and evaluate all risks to your organization. They could include:

  • Compliance with numerous regulatory entities such as the Food and Drug Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, Securities and Exchange Commission, Department of Justice, etc.
  • The ability to adapt to constantly changing and accelerating global regulatory activities
  • Security breaches and IT failures
  • Inadvertent exposure of intellectual capital
  • Cost and availability concerns

Life Science firms can also take risk and turn it into a marketplace opportunity. The most common areas where we witness life science firms that manage the flip side of risk include:

  • Competitor product failure that allows for your firm’s product to become a forerunner for approval
  • Products are approved ahead of schedule, allowing for early availability
  • Product manufacturing improves or is produced ahead of initial projected time frame
  • An unanticipated gain in market need for a product or unanticipated market sharing upon launch of product

It is important to implement a broad risk management plan. Tips for advancing your risk management strategies include:

  • Keeping on or ahead of schedule for product review and release through strategic planning
  • Addressing increased demand for cost effective products from physicians, consumers, politicians and regulators and increased interest from investors
  • Heeding the call from consumers for safer or risk-free breakthrough therapies

Biopharmaceutical and life science firms need to rely on a comprehensive insurance plan to deal with an ever-evolving matrix of risk. TechAssure members can help your firm deal with a multitude of issues concerning risk management including, but not limited to: network and privacy security, increased global competition, loss of intellectual property and delays or business interruption in Research and Development. Please contact us for more information on how our members can help you minimize risk to your life science firm.

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