Tina Witte

The way pharma and biotech companies track their competitors is changing fast. We are moving past basic AI text generators and into a world of autonomous AI agents. These tools can scan huge patent portfolios, track messy clinical trial updates, and predict what rivals will do next in a matter of seconds. This shift is happening right as multi-billion-dollar biologics approach the loss of their patent protection, making the race for information tighter than ever.

The old market access playbook is obsolete. High list prices offset by heavy PBM rebates no longer work. Between the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), PBM reform, and direct-to-consumer pharmacy channels, the rules have changed — and so has the definition of a frictionless patient experience.

In my time leading the Life Sciences Practice Area at Fletcher, I’ve seen just how vastly differently organizations choose to anchor their CI efforts. Some operate absent a formal CI function at all, while others are in the infancy stages of a more formidable buildout. And then there are the companies that have made substantive investments altogether, standing up full departments and giving CI a real seat at the executive table.