“Think twice, and twice more, before launching your own drug. It is unimaginably difficult and complex”. Those were the words of a biotech CEO I interviewed more than a decade ago. The advice remains sound. Yet today there are tailwinds encouraging more biotechs to take their prized assets all the way to market. (And let’s face it, some have less choice in the matter: acquirors are sitting on their hands, waiting to see how launches go.) The tailwinds include more powerful data analytics tools, a bountiful supply of commercial talent from down-sizing Big Pharma, and more flexible work patterns.

So what drives a decision to self-commercialize during the 2020s, and how do biotechs fully harness these tailwinds? For Evaluate’s recent report, Commercializing Biotech, I spoke to several biotech leaders to try to answer those questions.

Several important lessons emerged for biotechs starting – or thinking about starting – the journey toward full integration. I am delighted that one of those biotech leaders, Verona Pharma’s Chief Commercial Officer Chris Martin, will join me and Evaluate’s Daniel Chancellor to explore those lessons in an upcoming webinar.

Chris is particularly well-positioned to help provide a blueprint for biotech commercialization: Verona Pharma launched their first drug, Ohtuvayre (ensifentrine) for chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) in August 2024. They have since reached over 5,300 prescribers and seen their share price treble. Ohtuvayre is on track to reach or exceed $400 million in sales this year, and could soon achieve blockbuster status: Evaluate Pharma’s consensus forecasts are $1.4 billion in 2030.

Chris will help us understand how a company can shift from being almost entirely focused on drug development to building up a commercial organization from scratch. What are the timelines? The pitfalls? The opportunities? How do you choose who to hire? How can companies creatively enable greater patient access? In short, how can other ambitious biotechs follow in Verona’s footsteps?

If you’d like to register for the webinar, you can do so here. I’m really looking forward to exploring the topic in more depth and giving Chris a (light!) grilling on Verona’s future plans.

I hope you’re able to join us!