COMBINATION THERAPIES OR STANDALONE INTERVENTIONS? INNOVATION OPTIONS FOR PHARMACEUTICAL FIRMS FIGHTING CANCER

Abstract

Innovation is key to the pharma model, from an initial discovery to the final development of a marketable drug. Here, we explore the innovation options in the fiercely contested therapeutic area of Oncology. We studied clinical development of drugs targeting PD-1 and PD-L1 pathway. In this interesting contest, companies seem to be focusing on standalone interventions (exploratory innovation) and combination therapy (exploitative innovation) in clinical development. Merck Sharp and Dohme, having a relatively weaker oncology pipeline seems to take exploratory approach of standalone intervention. However for some indications, MSD seems to harness exploitative innovation approach through combination therapies by collaborating with external partners. AstraZeneca in contrast seems to focus on exploitative approach using its strong oncology pipeline for combination therapies. Our work provides a framework to understand exploratory (standalone) and exploitative (combination therapy) innovation approaches and their relationship to capability, scientific networks and market access for a company entering a fiercely contested pharmaceutical market.