Pfizer executive on pharma’s post-pandemic future

Pfizer executive on pharma’s post-pandemic future

Author: The National News May 10, 2023 Duration: 22:03
Last week, the World Health Organization announced that Covid-19 no longer qualifies as a global emergency, marking an end - albeit a symbolic one - to the pandemic. Pfizer, maker of one of the most-used Covid-19 jabs and an antiviral pill, hit a record-breaking $100 billion in revenues in 2022, spurred by earnings from those treatments. As the pandemic wanes and demand for treatments drops off, the New York-headquartered pharmaceuticals company is in a "transition year", chief executive Albert Bourla said on a first-quarter earnings call. Patrick van der Loo, a regional president who oversees the Middle East, Russia and Africa, talks to host Kelsey Warner this week about what a transition means for the world's biggest pharmaceutical company by revenue, how the pandemic changed drug development cycles and what the Gulf's potential is for taking a piece of the booming life sciences industry. In this episode: Pfizer's transition post-pandemic and its role now (0m 20s)The velocity of drug discovery and the impact of the pandemic (6m 52s)The UAE's role in the pharmaceutical industry (9m 14s)Public health challenges and the ambitions in the region (17m 37s)   Read more on our website: Pfizer drops sales guidance after posting 47% jump in Q4 profits Stem cell therapies promise breakthrough in Dubai life sciences Abu Dhabi's Mubadala and G42 launch tech-focused healthcare company M42 Subscribe to Business Extra for free to receive new episodes every weekApple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Podbean

Tune into Business Extra for a clear-eyed look at the forces shaping commerce in the Middle East and beyond. Produced by The National News, this podcast moves past the headlines to deliver substantive conversations with the analysts, executives, and innovators driving change. Each episode leans on the deep regional expertise of our editors and reporters, who translate complex developments in markets, energy, and technology into accessible insights. You’ll hear grounded discussions that connect local trends to global patterns, offering a necessary perspective on one of the planet's most dynamic economic landscapes. Whether it's a shift in oil policy, a tech startup's rise, or a new trade agreement, this series provides the context often missing from daily news cycles. For anyone with a stake in understanding how business really works in this pivotal region, Business Extra is an essential listen, blending authoritative journalism with genuine curiosity. The result is a consistently informative podcast that feels less like a briefing and more like a series of insightful conversations with people who have their finger on the pulse.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Business Extra
Podcast Episodes
What will Syria’s revalued currency mean for its economy? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:55
Syria’s central bank has announced plans for a currency overhaul that will involve eliminating two zeros from its pound and printing new banknotes. The Syrian pound has lost more than 99 per cent of its value since the s…
What's behind US-UAE nuclear partnership? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:42
Nuclear energy can be a flashpoint for tension in the Middle East.Now, though, it's taking new light. A handful of Gulf countries, including the UAE, have signed new agreements with the US in the past few months – each n…
Donald Trump's new tariffs and the Middle East [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:27
New US tariffs are coming into effect this week. US President Donald Trump's newest deadline of August 1 is his latest attempt to secure trade agreements with vital global economies – and bring in more revenue for the US…
What new US crypto laws mean for the future [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:15
Crypto has reached a critical moment in its history. The US released a slew of game-changing bills for cryptocurrency last week, signalling a long-anticipated seal of approval of crypto from the world’s largest economy.…
How to own property in Saudi Arabia [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:49
A whole new property market is to open up to international buyers and it is from the Middle East’s largest economy. Starting in January 2026, Saudi Arabia will allow foreign investors to buy property in the kingdom. It h…
What does Oman's new income tax mean for the Gulf? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:19
The absence of income tax has helped to attract people from around the world to move to the Gulf. But one country is set to change direction. Oman recently announced it will be the first country in the region to introduc…