This Brief defines competitive intelligence (CI) as a tool for making
investment decisions within the pharmaceutical industry. It provides an
overview of processes that the regulatory affairs professional must take
into account when evaluating data impacting product-based risk
evaluations. These apply particularly to evaluations that focus on
outputs such as regulatory approval, or the commercial impact of product
labeling on the sales forecast over a limited timeframe. The Brief also
provides an overview of intellectual property assessment that can impact
a product's lifespan on the market due to patent protection itself (or
loss of patent protection) or via regulatory exclusivity. Case examples
are discussed to illustrate the importance of keeping up with the
ever-changing regulations, and how to interpret them in the context of
CI. In addition, there is a section on virtual data rooms (VDRs) which
currently function as the cornerstone of due diligence investigations.
While aimed primarily at regulatory affairs professionals in the United
States, this publication provides a useful adjunct for other
pharmaceutical executives, especially those new to product-based
investments, and regulatory affairs professionals in other regions.