Pharmaceutical Industry
Germany is no longer “the world’s pharmacy”. Government interventions, such as mandatory discounts, controlled prices and re-importation policies, are challenges for a globalized industry, where innovation and medical progress go hand-in-hand with increasing demands on time and funding for research and development.
In addition to their current business areas, many companies seek to explore new markets – e.g., by concentrating on generic drugs or by specializing within certain market niches. Strategic cooperation’s of pharmaceutical companies with medical engineering or biotechnology companies are gaining importance. Price erosion, increasing self-medication, OTC sales, and new distribution channels have led to drastically changed sales structures.
