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Navigating regulatory affairs in biopharma industry requires skilled talent pool: Expert
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Shardul Nautiyal, Mumbai
December 28 , 2023
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Navigating regulatory affairs in the biopharma industry requires a skilled talent pool, according to Benjamin James, HR Leader, Asia-Pacific, Cytiva Lifesciences - a global life sciences (biopharma) company.
He cited Cytiva's Global Biopharma Resilience Index (GBRI), which reveals a decline in overall talent pool resilience, with the score dropping from 6.27 in 2021 to 5.60 in 2023. GBRI is a survey of 1,250 biopharma and healthcare executives worldwide.
India's biotech industry has experienced significant growth over the past two decades, making it one of the top 12 biotechnology destinations globally, with more than 2,500 biotech companies. This growth is crucial in positioning India as a USD 150 billion bioeconomy by 2025.
James further added that of the five pillars included in our study, talent pool resilience witnessed the most substantial decline, making it the second lowest-scoring pillar in the 2023 index. This trend mirrors the industry's current recruitment challenges, with approximately two in ten executives describing the task of finding various types of talent within their country as a "substantial challenge," with manufacturing talent being particularly scarce.
The survey also sheds light on talent acquisition and retention challenges within the biopharmaceutical industry in India. Within the larger context, three main challenges stand out. For the talent involved in designing solutions, such as digital technology talent, and research and development talent, a significant portion of executives (57% and 54%, respectively) perceive acquisition as a moderate to substantial challenge. At the same time, for the talent involved in manufacturing – 52% of surveyed executives consider acquiring manufacturing talent capable of working in GMP-certified or equivalent facilities, a moderate to very substantial challenge.
For those engaged in supply chain (procurement and operations management), 56% of the executives find talent acquisition and retention to be particularly challenging. The consumer and patient engagement segment also grapples with a similar challenge, with 60% of the surveyed executives expressing difficulty in acquiring and retaining customer/patient engagement specialists. 47% of executives also consider hiring and retaining senior management personnel a moderate to very substantial challenge.
Talking about the initiatives to attract and nurture talent in the Indian biopharma industry, James informed that Cytiva Lifesciences, in India, serves as a microcosm of the global biopharma landscape. Its operations span various critical functions, including R&D, digital, commercial (sales and services), marketing, finance, operations, and recently, manufacturing. This diverse ecosystem allows Cytiva to craft a compelling narrative for prospective talent, providing a comprehensive overview of the biopharma journey - from ideation and manufacturing to sales. This approach has proven successful in attracting skilled talent. Further, in the realm of R&D, which is a key area in the biopharma industry – Cytiva has over 100 patents. Notably, two of its products, aimed at streamlining bioprocess manufacturing, have garnered prestigious awards, reinforcing their commitment to meaningful advancements in the industry.
“While training is a key aspect of biopharmaceutical operations, there are inherent limitations including the lack of availability of machines, differences in time zone, and rigid training schedules. To this end, Cytiva has developed bite-sized training modules to introduce greater flexibility, accessibility, and autonomy in the training and learning process. Further, its HR operations have introduced an innovative onboarding system named "enboarder," a bot-like interactive platform that guides new hires through the intricacies of the company's culture and keeps them updated on organisational developments. This has ensured that employees remain informed and engaged right from the very beginning of their journey with Cytiva,” James concluded.
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