Business Expert

The Clinical Research Market in India is growing at a very rapid rate according to anyone’s statistics…It is exploding according to all the hype.

For a long time, India has been a hotbed for companies in several major industries looking to outsource and “off-shore” services in an effort to speed development, reduce costs, while hoping to maintain a high level of quality. Today, the process of discovering and testing new drugs is following a similar path and India has a leading role.

There is a tremendous amount of excitement about markets such as India, Central and Eastern Europe and more recently, China. But like any new and exciting trend, we need to buffer that excitement with an understanding of reality. There are tremendous benefits being realized by companies now conducting studies in India, but those companies have also developed an understanding of the cultural intricacies, workforce talent pool, site and study conduct challenges and an improving yet dynamic regulatory environment. Understanding these realities and how to work in them is critical to future success.



India – A Preferred Destination: Why the Industry is Acting on India

As is widely known today, sponsors operating in mature drug development markets including the US and Western Europe are facing difficult challenges in moving their compounds efficiently through the pipeline, whether it be a shortage of beds for Phase I units, delays in contracting and budgeting, or patient recruitment challenges, the costs and timelines associated with bringing new compounds from the bench to bedside is greater than ever before. These issues have forced the industry out of its comfort zone resulting in a rapid globalization process over the last 10 years. Likewise, regions and countries around the world have adapted to and benefited from this globalization.

In very recent years, India has adapted its laws and regulatory guidelines to allow global biopharmaceutical companies access and confidence in conducting clinical trials there. Strong national resources and advantages in medical education and practice, patient populations and the prevalence of 1st and 3rd world diseases have made India not only an open destination, but also an attractive destination. In fact, the well known consulting firm AT Kearney ranked the attractiveness of markets across the world using the US market as the benchmark. India ranks second only to China on that scale and other than population size ranks very closely to or better than China in a number of key categories, including – perhaps most importantly to many companies – the regulatory environment and timelines.

Overall India advantages becoming known:

* Well-credentialed, acclaimed physician base

* Growing market for patent-protected therapies

* Faster, cost-effective studies

* Marketing & Supply Chain infrastructure

* Large treatment-naïve patient population

For additional information on this exciting market, please click one of the links below:

* Clinical Trial and Site Management Services

* Regulatory Guidelines

So you’re fresh out of Business School and you’re thinking about joining that “Big-5” firm that has offered you a ridiculously high-salary, the option to travel to different cities and even countries routinely and fancy vellum business cards with your name is bold print. Could life get any better? Yes and No.

As a professional that has worked in the Consulting Industry, specifically the Management Consulting Industry for over nine years, the life of a professional consultant is a life paved with financial, career and travel rewards not normally available through traditional means of employment.

If you’re a single person, I would be hard pressed to find a better job as your career in consulting will take you to countless cities and even countries across the globe. You will routinely encounter brilliant people in your line of work as well as people of different cultures, religions and ethnicities. Depending on the length of your engagement, you’ll never stay in a single location long enough to grow tired of the surroundings. BUT, if you’re a person in a relationship, I can’t think of a worst profession to call a career. The strains of travel and being apart from your loved one(s) can only lead to discord in your relationship. This is obviously a generalization for I’ve personally known many professionals in happy relationships but it is a risk worth considering.

Are you the adventurous type? Then consulting will provide you with many an opportunity for adventure. Consulting will afford you opportunities to travel to locales you may have never thought you would have traveled to before; London, New York, Paris and Beijing being four locations where travel to is typical. Then again, during the onset of your career you should expect to visit not-so glamorous locations such as Butte, Montana or even Lincoln, Nebraska (no offense). If you like the idea of staying in a single city, single office and just stability in general; consulting may not be the life for you. You are paid that ridiculously high salary because Fortune 500 companies expect you to come to them. Travel is part and parcel to this career, so get used to it.

Do you like repetition? Getting comfortable with the same routine at work so much that you can do it with your eyes closed? If you’re answer is “Yes”, then turn around now, don’t pass “Go” and don’t collect $200.00…this ain’t the job for you! Consulting demands a lot of its practitioners, the main trait being ambition and the desire for bigger and more complex challenges. This career isn’t for the meek nor timid but rather for the over achiever looking for rapid movement up the corporate ladder. If this is you, then you’re chosen your career wisely.

All in all, a career in the Consulting Industry is a fruitful career. Even if you find yourself growing tired of the job after a few years, you’re work history and talent will be sought after by many other companies for Corporate America understands the trials and tribulations associated with the career and values any professional with such experience.

If you’ve read this article and have decided to finally sign that offer letter and next-day air it back to the home office; then welcome to the world of 60-hour work weeks, constantly eating out and a different hotel bed every month…enjoy the ride.

By: Alfred GarciaEdited By: Michael C. Podlesny

Network marketing opportunities that work not only exist, but are also doing quite well for themselves and their representatives. Some people will no doubt scoff at the notion. It’s understandable considering the number of businesses that pose as reputable top notch network marketing opportunities.

To give you a better idea of what network marketing is and what it isn’t, let’s look at some of the basics of network marketing. Network marketing isn’t an industry in and of itself. It’s a method of distribution for various products and services.

Network marketing organizations rely on their representatives to promote and sell the company product or service. This saves the company the huge expense of marketing themselves.

Also, because network marketing allows reps to recruit and train their own sales team, they receive a portion of the revenue generated by their sales team.

When most people hear the terms network marketing or multi-level marketing, they tend to immediately think “oh no…! Not another pyramid scheme.” It’s good to have a basic understanding of the fundamental difference between the two.

Point blank, pyramid schemes are illegal. Besides that however, pyramid schemes don’t rely on the sale of a product or service. Instead, these organizations focus heavily on recruiting and provide give little or no value to the new recruit aside for the promise of big bucks.

So, if the business opportunity you’re looking at doesn’t have a clearly defined product or service, or relies heavily on fancy recruiting systems to “do all the work for you”, it’s most likely an just another attempt to dazzle you with lots of hype.

Believe me, I speak from personal experience. “Everything that glitters, ain’t gold.” Use good judgment, and be sure to do the proper background research before you spend your hard earn money on a potential business opportunity.

Network marketing opportunities are a legitimate means to provide some additional income at low cost and limited risk.