Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

Mithra Pharmaceuticals is currently embracing many challenges and thereby questions the stature of its present supply chain network as well as the responsibility of each stakeholder.
The business environment of the healthcare industry has significantly changed in the past decade putting a tremendous price pressure and strengthening competition among life science companies. Beyond a stricter regulatory scrutiny, contract manufacturing operators impose rigorous constraints leading to long lead times with regards to products’ shelf life and large minimum order quantities. Therefore, supply chain is viewed as a new strategic asset and becomes a potential competitive advantage rather than an unavoidable cost center embedded in daily operations.
For what is more, Mithra recently started an international expansion and is aware that the current supply chain network might represent a burden to the successful accomplishment of its ambitions. In addition to that, Mithra’s future state-of-the-art technologic R&D and manufacturing platform is likely to bring changes and innovations in the way Mithra produces and commercializes its products, reducing the production dependency on third parties.
In this context, this project thesis aims at studying two potential alternatives to Mithra’s current distribution patterns. One the one hand, it will address a problem of network design and facility location to determine whether Mithra should move on to a centralized distribution model with a single warehouse taking roots in Liège Airport or not. Indeed, nowadays, the firm has a decentralized model including four local distribution centers. One the other hand, I will work on postponement concepts for Mithra’s production process. The objective will be to determine the best suited postponement strategy with regards to Mithra’s products portfolio. In both scenarios, I will evaluate the financial impact of such models.

healthcare industry, supply chain network optimization, centralized distribution strategy, facility location problem, postponement strategies. --- Sciences économiques & de gestion > Production, distribution & gestion de la chaîne logistique

Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

Founded twenty years ago, Mithra Pharmaceuticals is a Belgian biopharmaceutical company active in the women's health sector. More than ever in full growth, the company is becoming an international player in the contraceptive and menopause fields. Since 2014, Mithra has decided to focus its core activities on research and development. Its innovation activity is mainly directed towards the development of Estetrol, a natural new hormonal substance. With its innovative Estetrol-based portfolio, Mithra intends to market its first flagship product Estelle® by mid-2021. This combined oral contraceptive pill of fifth generation is expected to transform the contraceptive market, which has not seen such an innovation in over 90 years. As a potential future blockbuster with worldwide coverage, it is the subject of high expectations in terms of financial income, leaving no room for mistake. 
The pharmaceutical industry is subject to stringent regulatory constraints, high product quality requirements and shorter lead-time to market. This all puts a high financial pressure on healthcare companies and stresses their need for a reactive production strategy. The fast-paced launch of generic drugs after patent expiry also strengthen the competitiveness of the sector. 
In this context, the aim of this project thesis is to develop an appropriate production strategy for the commercial launch of this new contraceptive pill. This work aims at preparing the commercial launch in several ways: first of all, the mapping of the production process will allow Mithra to optimize and improve its efficiency by reducing its manufacturing lead time. Secondly, a strategic and tactical analysis of capacity management planning highlighted the need for alternative suppliers and the need for building safety stocks. This need is further reinforced by the unprecedented Covid-19 health crisis. Thirdly, production planning for the commercial launch emphasized the potential lack of hormone resources. With a limited amount of available hormone material, production will certainly have to be adapted and performed at tight flow, thus impacting the volume produced for the commercial launch. Finally, a comparative analysis of potential logistics providers helped the company to select the ideal partner to support its growth. This project thesis provides Mithra Pharmaceuticals with decision-support tools to best manage its first innovative contraceptive product.

Pharmaceutical industry --- fifth generation pill --- supply chain --- combined oral contraception --- blockbuster --- process optimization --- sales and operations planning --- Sciences économiques & de gestion > Production, distribution & gestion de la chaîne logistique