In the increasingly competitive and innovation-driven biopharma industry, growth is not only a strategic objective for companies, it’s also a necessity. While expanding market share, launching new products and technologies, and acquiring assets through mergers and acquisitions remain key drivers, international expansion offers a powerful route to sustainable long-term growth. Success in new geographies hinges not only on regulatory acceptance and commercial readiness, but also on the effective design and execution of robust supply chain and distribution strategies. This paper explores the critical supply chain and distribution considerations that underpin international expansion, with a particular focus on the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

Interest in rare disease (RD) therapies continues to rise, with many established companies incorporating RD therapies into their portfolios for the first time. This paper:

• Describes the special challenges associated with distributing RD products
• Outlines the key steps and deliverables for developing and implementing supply chains for RD therapies
• Summarizes the pitfalls that biopharma companies must avoid when working to establish reliable supply chains in rare diseases.