Direct-to-pharmacy push by Pfizer in Australia
Global drug giant Pfizer has caused a stir in several pharmaceutical wholesale markets with the launch in September of a direct-to-pharmacy arrangement in Australia. A similar program is under consideration in the UK, where the Office of Fair Trading is considering the competition policy issues raised by the streamlining of wholesale operations.
The Pfizer Direct system bypasses drug wholesalers by arranging for a five-year partnership between the drugmaker and logistics giant DHL Exel Supply Chain. The Pfizer Direct scheme in Australia is to supplement pharmacy supplies, the firm stated. The emergence of logistics firms as competitors to dedicated pharmaceutical wholesalers is a matter of concern for the latter. According to the Expopharm newsletter, DHL signed a L22.0 billion ($44.92 billion) deal with the UK government last year to exclusively supply every one of the National Health Service hospitals.
"If we don't differentiate, we can't continue"
This article is accessible to registered users, to continue reading please register for free. A free trial will give you access to exclusive features, interviews, round-ups and commentary from the sharpest minds in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology space for a week. If you are already a registered user please login. If your trial has come to an end, you can subscribe here.
Login to your accountTry before you buy
Free
7 day trial access
- All the news that moves the needle in pharma and biotech
- Exclusive features, podcasts, interviews, data analyses and commentary from our global network of life sciences reporters.
- Receive The Pharma Letter daily news bulletin, free forever.
Become a subscriber
£820
Or £77 per month
- Unfettered access to industry-leading news, commentary and analysis in pharma and biotech.
- Updates from clinical trials, conferences, M&A, licensing, financing, regulation, patents & legal, executive appointments, commercial strategy and financial results.
- Daily roundup of key events in pharma and biotech.
- Monthly in-depth briefings on Boardroom appointments and M&A news.
- Choose from a cost-effective annual package or a flexible monthly subscription
The Pharma Letter is an extremely useful and valuable Life Sciences service that brings together a daily update on performance people and products. It’s part of the key information for keeping me informed
Chairman, Sanofi Aventis UK
Today's issue
Company Spotlight
Copyright © The Pharma Letter 2025 | Headless Content Management with Blaze