A research and data oriented organisation, PBR Life Science has launched a data platform known as “Versus”.
The platform will enable pharmaceutical product owners to know how their product is performing at the retail level.
While speaking at the unveiling of the data platform in Lagos recently, the Marketing Director, PBR Life Science, Pharm. Wole Julie Ajayi, explained that “Versus” is a data driven platform for pharmaceutical and lifescience companies.
She said “Versus” helps pharmaceutical companies to unlock success and win at retail pharmacy level. “Versus” is a helpful tool for pharma companies who want to scan their external environment, who need launching strategy, who want to introduce new products, who want to check their market share or know the therapy area in which they are doing well or who want to invest”.
She noted that she has worked in many pharmaceutical companies in Nigeria and across Africa, but one thing is greatly lacking, there was no data to work with to plan marketing strategy. “No data for Nigeria and other African countries, but I realised that when I manage English companies, there is data, this was the reason I joined PBR because the company is determined to provide data solutions”, She said.
In his remark at the event, the Chief Product and Innovation Officer, PBR Life Science, Mr Adeoye Sobande explained that “Versus” acquires data from retail pharmacy from different pharmacies across the country, put them together and then use technology to process it and put it on the platform to enable company make decisions.
According to Sobande, the information on the platform represents what is happening in the entire retail pharmacy. He said “the information will enable pharmaceutical companies to make decisions. “Versus” is a platform that gives you detailed information about what is happening in the retail pharmacy.
“If you want to know if your products are doing well at the retail level, you want to have an insight on which products are doing well at the retail level in Nigeria, or who is your competitor, then “Versus” is the right platform for you.
“The platform provides access to local data and insight that enables pharma companies to gain comprehensive understanding of their organisation and brand performance within retail pharmacies. The platform also enables pharma product manufacturers to know how their product is doing at the retail level.
On how PBR gets data into the platform, Sobande said, “We collect data from retail pharmacies every quarter, we are targeting 1000 pharmacies. The platform is affordable compared with the value in it and the benefit it will give to business.
“It will also help companies to reduce loss. We charge by therapy area and the payment is flexible. When any client comes onboard, we train and guide and give necessary advice.
Sobande added that the platform covers 25 states in Nigeria, and carries data driven information on the pharmaceutical industry.
Meanwhile, some stakeholders in the pharma industry have commended the organisation for coming up with such an innovative data platform.
While speaking at the unveiling of the platform, the Chairman, Association of Industrial Pharmacists of Nigeria (NAIP), Pharm. Ken Onuegbu, said the Nigeria pharma industry is lacking behind in the area of data, he therefore commended BPR Lifescience for coming up with the “Versus” platform.
Also speaking at the event, the managing director, Reals Pharmaceuticals Limited, Pharm. Ade Popoola said data is the key element in pharma business.
He however lamented that there is no reliable data about the Nigeria pharmaceutical industry. He therefore commended BPR on the newly unveiled platform, expressing optimism that the platform will fill the vacuum in the area of data for the pharma industry.
