From clinical trials to in-person sales calls, the pharmaceutical value chain has been tested by the COVID-19 pandemic, but has held up. Nevertheless, recent friction within this chain may be more than a passing irritation.

The pandemic created a tough environment for sales of both newly launched products and growing products, especially for small-to-medium enterprises. Scrip reviewed the second quarter earnings calls for several SMEs: some are continuing to feel pressure, and some are starting to recover. [See Part 1 for companies reporting a turnaround.]

Private Company Edition: With $8.9bn raised in the second quarter, venture capital investment in biopharma companies reached its second highest quarterly total to date – behind only Q1 of this year. Also, Nimbus Therapeutics raised $105m and European drug developers get in on the VC action. 

Recently launched branded drugs prescribed by specialist physicians and marketed by smaller commercial-stage biotech companies remain in the eye of the pandemic storm.