With over a decade at Evaluate under his belt, it seems remiss that we’ve not caught up with Paul Verdin, SVP, Head of Consulting and Analytics before now. In his role, he works closely with biotech and pharma companies on a range of projects from TPP assessment to indication selection. I finally pinned him down to talk about the importance of clarity in asset development, innovative science, and why he wasn’t destined to linger in academia for too long.

1. What’s the biggest challenge facing pharma and biotech companies at the moment?
   There are so many, but so many opportunities as well, of course!  Developing clinically meaningful and commercially successful new medicines is not easy, as we know.  Treatment paradigms are getting more complex all the time, and the bar for new therapies keeps getting higher. The nuances of challenge and opportunity are obviously very company-specific, but one constant is that all companies need to be taking informed, evidence-based decisions about their pipelines and portfolios.
2. What’s the one piece of advice you would give a biotech CEO?
   Have absolute clarity on your asset value! Value in numerical terms yes, but also in terms of clinical value and positioning, as well as patient value. There are many paths to market for a biotech – partnering, out-licensing, self-commercialization – and a biotech will go through many stage gates to get there. It’s vital that the path is defined by decisions based on deep and robust evidence. Understand your asset positioning, the addressable market, the competitive landscape, and make informed and realistic plans based on that.
3. Which areas of the industry are you most fascinated by? Why?
   I’m always fascinated to see innovative new science advance and become validated with new therapeutics and options for patients. Next-generation therapeutics are incredibly interesting on this basis – particularly getting down to not only disease modifying but truly curative approaches.
4. How did you end up working in this industry?
   I completed a PhD in neuropharmacology, but I knew at that time that a career as a bench scientist or in academia was not going to be for me. I wanted to find a career path that still stayed close to science and medicine, but not directly at the bench. The fast-paced world of consulting with and advising the wide range of pharma and healthcare stakeholders we work with was that path.
5. What’s the best thing about your role?
   The sheer variety of organizations we work with and projects we support. It is fascinating to get into the weeds of a specific client challenge or opportunity and to drive that forward with the client team. We work with so many interesting companies and assets at the forefront of pharma innovation, and on projects at the junction of scientific, clinical, and commercial considerations, so the variety is enormous.
6. What’s your favorite drink?
   I’ll drink pretty much anything. It all depends on the situation, of course, but broadly, I’ll take whatever you’re offering!

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