@Risk

Life sciences companies today offer more than pharmaceuticals. Many are also selling targeted therapeutics, such as diagnostic tests, monitoring mechanisms, delivery devices, and various support services.

That means supply chains for life science companies are now global, often interconnected, and exceedingly complex.

IBM recently took an in-depth look at the supply chain challenges facing life science companies, and released its findings in the new report, “The Smarter Supply Chain of the Future; Life Sciences Industry Edition.” The analysis summarizes data collected in a survey of executives at pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device and consumer health care industry companies who are responsible for planning, logistics, procurement and coordination throughout the life of a drug or medical device.

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The editorial “Say No to Raw Cookie Dough,” in Monday’s New York Times, urges Congress to act quickly and approve a bill that would strengthen the Food and Drug Administration’s powers, giving them both more money and more authority, including new clout to recall products and more easily review food safety records or consumer complaints. But –after the string of recent problems with tainted tomatoes, peanuts, pistachios, pot pies, beef, and now cookie dough –will the infusion of power and more than $1B contained in the Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009 be enough to overcome consumer skepticism?

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