Introduction
One of the most feared illnesses these days is cardiac arrest, or more commonly known as a heart attack. This is due to the fact that people are living in such a stressful world, being overly anxious and overworked at the same time, which makes life a bit more complicated and causes many people to experience heart failures. Furthermore, because of this fact, many pharmaceutical companies try to come up with solutions to prevent or at least lessen the risks of dying from such an illness.
Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson are among the fastest growing and highest rated pharmaceutical companies globally. It is undeniable that both companies strive to produce high-quality medicinal treatments for Cardiac Arrest patients, with the aim of providing complete relief to those suffering from this illness. This paper will perform a comparison and analytical observation based on studies conducted by certain universities on the innovative medical treatment designs of both Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson regarding this matter.
The first step in analyzing the matter to be discussed is to take a closer look at what is currently happening with regards to innovation in both companies.
Situational Analysis
Johnson & Johnson
The CYPHER® Sirolimus-eluting Coronary Stent, produced by Cordis Corporation, another company owned by Johnson & Johnson, is a new treatment option for patients who have had mild heart attacks. Cordis Corporation is recognized worldwide as a leader in producing and manufacturing interventional vascular technology. Physicians around the globe acknowledge that Cordis Corporation, empowered by Johnson & Johnson, opens doors for medical innovation. This empowers other pharmaceutical companies to make possible innovations to treat serious illnesses more effectively.
Currently, many physicians and cardiologists use the CYPHER® stent to treat their patients. The product has also been widely distributed by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals under the trademark Rapamune®. As Wyeth is a major distributor of medicines around the globe, the CYPHER® stent is widely accepted by medical experts today.
Pfizer
Lipitor is a prescription drug claimed by Pfizer to be more effective in preventing recurring heart attacks. It is used in conjunction with a low-fat diet and exercise to lower cholesterol levels. Extensive trial programs have proven Lipitor’s effectiveness and benefits for patients with a history of heart attack and are prone to recurring cardiac arrests.
However, there are some things to consider when taking this medicine. It has been examined and concluded that it is not advisable for patients with liver problems. Additionally, it is not recommended for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding due to substances that may directly affect the development and healthy heart development of the baby. Pfizer distributes this medicine widely today.
Corporate Innovation Type
Since the old method of medication using stents has been proven to be weak, a revolution in medical strategy has opened up. However, Cordis Corporation simply reinvented several parts of the old strategies with the help of Johnson & Johnson to develop the new CYPHER® stent. As a result, this innovative medical treatment reduced the risk of target vessel failure (TFV) for almost all patients who previously suffered from heart attacks. It is considered an incremental innovation” because it enhanced past medical strategies used by physicians and cardiologists in treating their patients, making medical treatments more efficient and effective for both patients and healthcare providers.
On the other hand, Lipitor is a medicine produced by Pfizer that represents a more radical innovation. This is because Pfizer attempted to completely redesign their previous medication, Simvastatin, which was their main product for treating this illness before Lipitor emerged.
Both innovations are great revelations in the medical world. They have made significant improvements in dealing with heart ailments and other related health problems.
Corporate innovation characteristics:
Both Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson likely based their innovations on customer needs. According to the American Heart Association, heart disease is responsible for about seven million deaths worldwide each year. As a result, pharmaceutical companies face the challenge of developing new medications to treat heart ailments.
For Cordis Corporation, a Johnson & Johnson innovation on cardiology treatments, the CYPHER® stent has been proven to be more effective than the metal stent previously used with patients. The TYPHOON (Trial to assess the use of the CYPHER® Stent in Acute Myocardial Infarction Treated with Balloon Angioplasty) was utilized to help patients adjust to this new medication strategy. After the trial, it was observed that patients had a lower likelihood of experiencing recurring heart attacks.
The Lipitor medicine, manufactured by Pfizer, is a tablet that has great effects on patients who are at high risk of having a second heart attack. According to new data, several heart attack patients who took at least 80mg of Lipitor noted a 46% reduction in the risk of future cardiac arrests.
According to Dr. Peter Ganz, an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School:
The often debilitating effects of a heart attack can place a tremendous physical and emotional strain on patients and their families. These findings provide new and important information about the potential benefit of intensive treatment with Lipitor in the management of the risk of recurrent, potentially life-threatening cardiac events.” This suggests that Lipitor is a breakthrough in the medical field.
Corporate Innovative Drivers.
Heart attack is currently the third leading cause of death worldwide. This has prompted many medical institutions to develop innovative solutions to combat this issue. The main drivers behind these innovations are global competition between pharmaceutical companies, healthcare costs, and customer demands.
When it comes to the global competition of manufacturing and distributing medicines for heart ailments, both Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson are in the field. As a result, both companies are striving to conduct top-notch research and develop innovative ways to produce high-quality medicine that physicians and medical practitioners can use and promote. If they succeed in this competitive industry, both companies will be entitled to higher profits.
On the other hand, healthcare costs are, of course, a matter of concern for this innovation. If effective ways of treating heart ailments were introduced to the medical world, repetition of treatments wouldn’t need to be implied, thus causing patients fewer expenses. Customer requirements help determine the characteristics needed in innovations. This innovation driver also identifies the essential aspects that certain innovations should possess to make it in the market.
To overcome this fact, both Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson have made sure to give close attention to the three aspects of consideration during the research process. Additionally, adjustments are made whenever trials of the product application suggest it.
Physicians are promoting both innovations and intend to use both medical treatments to cure or prevent recurring heart attacks. The medicines and medical treatments manufactured by Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson are considered breakthroughs as they meet several standards for determining a certain innovation.
Innovation Model
Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson both utilized a renewal model” when innovating their products. While the CYPHER® stent from Johnson & Johnson was a new innovation, it was based on the previous use of metal stents. Therefore, both the CYPHER® and Lipitor medications are renewals of older versions of medical treatments previously used by these companies.
Through improvements in processes and applications of medicine, as well as trials to evaluate the effects of medicines on patients, older versions of medical treatments have been renewed and further developed to become more effective and efficient in treating heart illnesses caused by heart attacks.
Impact on the Value Chain
Medical innovations serve purposes beyond just medical applications. In the case of pharmaceutical companies, their innovations include developmental and commercialization values within their value chains.
Developmental values are mainly considered due to the constant improvement and innovation in the medical industry. Pharmaceutical companies participating in this industry are expected to jump on the bandwagon of medical developments to cater to the growing health needs of society.
Commercialization values are considered because one of the main aims of pharmaceutical companies is to gain profit from their developments. As their services and products increase in quality, their profits are expected to rise.
Project Selection and Development
In selecting which project to develop, companies consider several surveys and facts regarding the field they are engaged in. In the case of Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson, being a part of the medical world makes them more prone to considering medical facts regarding the health needs of society. Based on the research they conduct, they are able to determine which kind of medicine or area of medicine requires development or enhancement.
When companies select their focus, they establish developmental processes to meet the needs of both society and their field. This approach enables them to identify which aspects of medicine require development and determine what actions are necessary to achieve this goal.
Metrics of Success
Every development process involves trials to evaluate the product. The effectiveness of the medicine is measured through testing, but market acceptance is also crucial. Quality, price, and reasonable introduction to society are all factors that determine the success of medical developments.
Using these measures of success, both Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson were able to determine that their innovations regarding medical treatments for heart attack and cardiac arrest patients were effective. Surveys and results suggest that medical experts appreciated the enthusiasm of both companies in making treatments more practical and effective for patients.
Surely, the constant development involved in the medical industry suggests that as long as innovations are carefully planned and well thought out, success with these innovations is more likely to be expected.
The Process of Sustainability
There is always room for change, development, and improvement, especially in medical matters,” stated Burns (13). The sustainability of an innovation related to a medical product depends on continuous development. As time passes and people’s lives become more complex, health needs also become more intricate.
This is mainly the reason why the only way to sustain a medical product is to continuously develop it and improve its effectiveness in treating specific illnesses. By doing so, the product can be retained in the market as it is designed to cater to the patient’s needs on an ongoing basis.
Future Challenges
Johnson & Johnson’s CYPHER® stent is designed for patients who have had heart attacks. However, further developments are needed for this medical innovation. This is because heart ailments are becoming more complex, and as the need grows, the product must enhance its quality to meet customer needs for medicine or treatment.
Pfizer, on the other hand, faces specific problems with Lipitor due to its limitations. Patients with liver problems and nursing mothers cannot take the medicine, which reduces its market potential. Therefore, it is advised that the company continues to make further developments or improvements in their product to cater to a wider range of consumers.
Conclusion.
Among the earlier healers were well-known figures like Hippocrates and Pasteur, as well as lesser-known names like Vesalius and William Morton. Many people may not be familiar with these individuals, but what does modern medicine owe to them? (as quoted by Stark, 54)
In ancient times, the healing arts were often not approached scientifically but rather through superstition and religious ritual. The book The Epic of Medicine,” edited by Dr. Felix Marti-Ibañez, states that the Mesopotamians believed disease was a punishment from the gods and therefore relied on medico-religious medicine to combat it. Egyptian medicine also had religious roots, leading to healers being revered with a sense of religious admiration from the start.
In his book The Clay Pedestal, Dr. Thomas A. Preston observes that many beliefs of the ancients left imprints on the practice of medicine that survive to this day. One such belief was that disease was beyond the control of the patient, and only through the magical power of the physician was there hope for recovery (12).
In this regard, continuous improvement in the medical industry is expected from both medical experts and pharmaceutical companies. These innovations will lead to a better and more controllable health environment in human society.
Bibliography
Books:
Lawton Robert Burns (2005) wrote The Business of Healthcare Innovation” in Cambridge.
University Press, 1st edition.
Andrew Stark’s book, The Limits of Medicine,” was published by Cambridge University Press in 2006. It is the first edition of the book.
Felix Marti-Ibanez’s book, The Epic of Medicine,” was published in 1999 by Cambridge University Press. It is the first edition of this work.
Thomas Preston’s book, The Clay Pedestal,” was published in 1998 by Cambridge University Press as the first edition.
Lindsay Marks (2004) explored the concept of crossing boundaries and developing alliances.
Group Work by Haworth Press, 1st edition.
Peter Bo Poulsen (2000) wrote about Health Technology Assessment and the Diffusion of Health.
Technology at the University of Southern Denmark.
Internet Sites:
Johnson & Johnson (2006) conducted a study that was published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The study suggests a correlation between heart health and certain factors.
Patients who undergo an attack fare better when treated with CYPHER® Sirolimus-Eluting Coronary Stents.
According to a study conducted by Johnson & Johnson, drug-eluting stents have shown to be more effective than bare metal stents. Read more about it at http://www.jnj.com/news/jnj_news/20060913_145136.htm.
September 16, 2006.
Johnson & Johnson (2006) conducted a study on an investigational regimen that showed promise in improving…
Treatment of Heart Attack Patients.
On September 16, 2006, Johnson & Johnson announced news on their website at http://www.jnj.com/news/jnj_news/20020412_0916.htm.
Pfizer (2006) found that Lipitor is more effective than Simvastatin in reducing the risk of additional health issues.
New data suggests that patients who have had a recent heart attack are at risk of experiencing another one. This highlights the importance of closely monitoring and managing their condition to prevent further complications.
Visit http://mediaroom.pfizer.com/index.php?s=press_releases&item=96 for more information.
(September 16, 2006).
Pfizer’s Lipitor provides greater reductions in heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular events compared to other statins. According to a study conducted in 2006, Lipitor was found to be the most effective medication for reducing cholesterol levels and preventing heart disease. This medication is commonly prescribed by doctors as a preventative measure for patients with high cholesterol or those who have already suffered from a heart attack or stroke.
Cardiovascular procedures offer overall cost savings compared to Zocor.
An analysis shows that on May 15, 2006, a news story was published on PR Newswire. The article can be found at http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104;STORY=/www/story/05-15-2006/0004361842;EDATE=. This information was accessed on September 16, 2006.
