A heart-to-heart conversation between Big Pharma and Big Fund managers included some pointed criticism of the industry's unproductive R&D operations and concerns about pressure from payers as well as patients for less expensive drugs. The managers are asking for more information on early-stage therapies, a plan for handling safety concerns without cutting back on development and a common sense approach to demonstrating the value of a drug to payers. The fund managers are also looking for a sales strategy that takes into account consumers who can afford to pay the full rate, at a discount or not at all.
- read the report from The Wall Street Journal (sub. req.)