Key person interview
And to achieve stable supply
Susumu Umehara
Question 1. Please tell us about the difficulties and episodes in delivering TREAKISYM to the medical field without delay during the COVID-19 crisis.
The basic policy of SymBio Pharmaceuticals' in-house sales system is to realize "continuous supply TREAKISYM on the premise of stable supply, and the establishment of a distribution system as a specialty manufacturer." Since we started our own sales system by transferring sales of TREAKISYM from Eisai, we visited wholesalers nationwide and explained SymBio 's policy to wholesale executives. On September 7, 2020, we announced in a press release about SymBio Pharmaceuticals' in-house sales system.
The mission of pharmaceutical manufacturers is the stable supply of pharmaceuticals. By the end of November 2020, we had prepared a system to responsibly fulfill that mission, and on December 10th, we started our own sales system. SymBio Pharmaceuticals has selected a wholesaler (special agent) as a specialty manufacturer. Regarding our own warehouse, we outsource domestic logistics to S.D.Collaboration, a logistics company that specializes in pharmaceuticals, among third party logistics (3PL) companies. Thanks to this system, we were able to realize a stable supply in self-sales without delay even when the corona crisis began.
Question 2. With the introduction of liquid formulations and the expansion of indications for DLBCL, do you have any difficulties or episodes in anticipating a rapid increase in order volume?
RTD formulations (liquid formulations) must be strictly controlled at a temperature of 2°C to 8°C according to GDP (manufacturing control and quality control standards in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals). In collaboration with S.D.Collab, which I mentioned earlier, our mission was to deliver the quality of the products made at the factory to medical institutions and patients as they are. It was really hard work to build a system to have them transported to medical institutions through special agents.
Conventional freeze-dried formulations can be controlled at a temperature of 1°C to 30°C, but as I mentioned earlier, RTD formulations (liquid formulations) require strict temperature control. It is necessary to store it in a cold storage warehouse at 2℃ to 8℃. We have secured two distribution centers and realized operations in accordance with a predetermined delivery schedule, making it possible to provide a stable supply.
Question 3. How would you like to create a distribution system for expanding demand after 2022?
As part of our delivery plan for RTD formulations (liquid formulations) in 2022, we anticipate a significant expansion. We have already established a system for striving for supply, so we are confident that we will be fully prepared no matter when demand increases.
Question 4. RI (bolus injection) administration has been approved, but how will the distribution department respond?
RI administration takes the form of administration in 10 minutes, so we communicated through MS, a special agent, that patients who used to take an hour to complete the intravenous drip can be completed in 10 minutes. We have a cooperative system in which we widely communicate to doctors in the pharmacy department.
Question 5. Looking back, how do you feel about achieving profitability as you planned?
Since joining the company in 2016, I have been in charge of distribution operations. In October 2018, SymBio Pharmaceuticals announced in a press release that it would start its own sales. So, we spent two years building the current distribution system with the cooperation of medical institutions and distributors.
As a specialty manufacturer, we are proud to say that we were able to build a strict quality control and rapid distribution system.
Question 6. As the person in charge of the distribution department, please tell us about your thoughts and gratitude toward the medical field, patients, and shareholders.
The doctors at medical institutions have cooperated with us in various difficult situations when SymBio Pharmaceuticals started its own sales system. They were very understanding and treated us very favorably, and we were able to promote the transfer of sales to SymBio products.
In addition, I would like to express my deep gratitude to you for switching to the RTD formulation while responding to shipment adjustments in order to ensure a stable supply of the freeze-dried formulation.
I would like to express my gratitude to our shareholders for their continued investment in the company, which has continued to be in the red since our listing, and how we have managed to grow the company into a profitable company. I think. We would like to ask for your continued support. Thank you.