As biotechnology and pharmaceutical professionals continue efforts to make advances in medicinal drug formulation, safety and efficacy, experts in the field are implementing innovations to address regulatory hurdles, research costs and global health challenges.

The new Biotech and Pharmaceutical Management Program offered through the Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy is designed to give leaders the opportunity to explore industry trends and cutting edge research with a cohort of peers, executives and renowned faculty from the university.

“With insights from practitioners, policy makers and thought leaders, participants will gain real-world knowledge that can help shape their strategies and drive success in their organizations," said Sean Nicholson, professor and director of the Sloan Program in Health Administration in the Brooks School. “Through this program, we will broaden understanding of the shifts and issues in these sectors for a top-performing class of learners who can initiate industry-wide progress.”

This year’s intensive program offers a live virtual course through eCornell August 21 to September 25 and an immersive summit at Cornell Tech in New York City on September 29 and 30. Participants have the option to purchase the virtual and in-person courses separately or participate in both to gain the most value from the program. 

In the online course, students will examine key management issues facing the pharma and biotech industries, navigate organizational silos and drug commercialization, evaluate lifecycle management and marketing strategies, discover how firms set prices and negotiate with insurers and analyze mergers and acquisitions. Nicholson will guide the cohort through real-time discussions of current topics, including the role of biotech and genomics in transforming the industry, government regulation of the business, and tensions related to global product costs.

The summit at Cornell Tech will enable participants to engage with industry leaders and Cornell faculty on biopharmaceutical innovation and other salient matters – such as the payer perspective, barriers and incentives for adoption, and diversity, equity, and inclusion in clinical trials, among others – in small panel discussions. The experience will also offer group networking events.

According to Mariya Thompson, director of executive education for the Cornell Sloan Program in Health Administration, the Biotech and Pharmaceutical Management Program is part of Cornell’s portfolio of initiatives that deliver unique educational experiences to leaders in an effort to accelerate advancement across industries.

"In this new program, participants will gain skills necessary not only for the rapidly changing biopharma landscape but also for technology-driven transformation within intersecting business areas," said Thompson. “This inaugural group will expand their expertise through coursework and conversations with expert faculty. The program will equip them with tools to make meaningful contributions to their industries and beyond.”

Enrollment for the program is now open. Individuals interested in understanding business, economic and policy issues affecting biopharma organizations can learn more about the Biotech and Pharmaceutical Management Program online.