ASAP Blog

What's the difference between being an alliance manager and acting as an alliance leader? A recent ASAP Roundtable explored that very topic, with responses ranging from being more proactive to establishing sound practices to taking an enterprise-level view across the portfolio and the organization. Continue Reading

AstraZeneca's Community of Excellence gathers alliance management stakeholders across the organization to share best practices, trends, and ideas—and it costs nothing! This “simple, lean, and efficient” approach to COEs was featured at the 2022 ASAP BioPharma Conference. Continue Reading

Theoretically, maybe you can manage what you can't measure...but does that really make sense? This guest post argues for optimizing alliance management through the intelligent use of data and information that is housed in one place, fit for purpose, and available on demand to alliance stakeholders. Continue Reading

Although tech and pharma alliances have some very different nuances, strategic thinking, trust, and conflict resolution are necessary to get that sweet taste of alliance success in either industry. Christina Neary and Alison Handley expanded on these themes in the latest ASAP webinar. Continue Reading

If your company is easy to deal with as a partner, you're more likely to deliver great results and attract new employees, partners, and customers. So how do you simplify the partner experience? Phil Sack explained in the latest Collaborative Connection Monthly webinar and roundtable. Continue Reading

A recent ASAP Roundtable surveyed biopharma alliance managers from around the Asia Pacific region on the most pressing issues they face. Managing stakeholders, finding talent, and ensuring good governance topped the list. But the APAC partnering boom highlighted some regional specifics too. Continue Reading

Trust is the foundation of any alliance. You need to build it between and within partner organizations early, and work hard to maintain it over time. Because once it's gone, so goes your alliance, in all likelihood, as was explained in ASAP's latest webinar. Continue Reading

In discovery-phase alliances, alliance managers need to have their eyes on the big picture and broader company strategy when working with scientists who are often too narrowly focused on short-term objectives. Three Takeda executives explained in an 2022 ASAP BioPharma Conference presentation. Continue Reading

Caroline Rader, Chris Black, Ken Marran, and Ryan Lenox brought ASAP BioPharma Conference took attendees behind the curtain of Merck's Big-Pharma-to-Big-Pharma alliances, which are responsible for major multibillion-dollar, market-moving drug candidates. Continue Reading

Communication is "job number one." Alliance manager are “communications cops” who function as “communications central,” making sure internal and partner stakeholders receive and deliver critical information pertaining to the partnership in a timely manner. Continue Reading

Jim Mullen of Editas Medicine delivered tips on dealing with “the Bermuda Triangle of contract issues”—decision rights, dispute resolution, and termination—in his ASAP BioPharma Conference keynote. When conflict arises, get agreement on the facts, but don't require a consensus decision. Continue Reading

What do biopharma alliance managers need to know about digital transformation? Microsoft's Elena Bonfiglioli outlined three things in her ASAP BioPharma Conference keynote: 1) culture that promotes privacy, 2) competencies, and 3) trust. Continue Reading