A recent trend has emerged for large pharmaceutical companies to separate out their consumer health arms. Merck, Sanofi, Pfizer and GSK have all taken this approach, and research suggests others will follow. They stand to benefit from the significant sums generated in the divestment as well as the ability to focus on their core biopharma and vaccine lines. The newly created consumer health businesses are released from much regulation and have the freedom to develop business models and supply chains that suit a more brand-focused consumer business. Alongside this, they are able to take a new approach to technology and digital to increase their competitiveness in the market. 

Deglobalisation trends, the pandemic, inflation and other geopolitical tensions have put pressure on multiple business areas across both pharma and consumer health in recent years. While breaking away from legacy systems that no longer serve them, these newly formed entities have the opportunity to take a fresh look (from R&D, to manufacturing to sales) and respond to these pressures at the same time. 

Alongside traditional OTC medicines, the scope of consumer health now encompasses a $1.5 trillion wellness market, digital therapeutics, home diagnostics, and many other health products, technologies and services that have developed to address consumers’ changing needs. The separation allows the now consumer-focused businesses to capitalise on these new trends.

This free webinar, hosted by the Financial Times in partnership with Cognizant and Salesforce, will explore why pharma companies are choosing to spin off their consumer health businesses, how this benefits the existing and newly formed entities, the challenges faced, as well as the impact these moves might have on the broader market including pharma, consumer health and retail. 

Understand

The big picture, not just the individual strands of the business you work in

Connect

And build relationships with some of the biggest names in your industry

Discover

New approaches and strategies to help win market share

Premier Digital Events Supported by the World's Best Journalism

Using leading digital technology, we have now taken our content, global audience reach and engagement to a new level through a series of unmissable virtual events. Our compelling events are chaired by respected FT journalists, feature the most senior and thought-provoking decision-makers in business, finance and politics, all accessible from your office or home.

© Financial Times Live

FT Live and its journalism are subject to a self-regulation regime under the FT Editorial Code of Practice