Reviving an R&D pipeline: a step change in the Phase II success rate

The pharmaceutical industry has faced declining research and development (R&D) productivity for decades. During the early 2010s, Pfizer saw its R&D productivity drop even more sharply than did its industry peers. As impactful medicines the company had developed and brought to patients in previous years lost exclusivity, Pfizer faced a steep patent cliff with a cumulative revenue impact of >US$28 billion through 2018. Since 2010, the company has embarked on a focused turnaround effort to improve R&D productivity. Although some efforts will need more time to prove themselves, there are early signs of a turnaround now, particularly in terms of Phase II success rates. Here, we share some learnings from a decade of experience as one of the largest R&D organizations in the industry.