Blockchain innovation in pharmaceutical use cases: PharmaLedger and Mytigate
Abstract
Blockchain has been often presented as a disruptive technology that affects multiple fields such as finance, supply chain management and the healthcare system. This paper, positioned in the innovation research field, aims at enriching the discussion about real use cases in the context of the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry. The work is presented as a multiple case study about two recent applications of blockchain technology, PharmaLedger and Mytigate. First, we present the implication of blockchain technology for the pharmaceutical industry value chain. Then, we discuss the specific features of both projects from multiple angles, including ecosystem, governance, and opportunities and risks. Finally, we provide the lessons learned and the implications for the case studies under investigation. Ultimately, identification of the right use case, co-creation, acceptance among stakeholders and data privacy and security seem to be the most critical success factors for the implementation of an effective blockchain operating in the pharmaceutical industry. The paper constitutes a bridge for both practitioners and researchers between the theory behind blockchain networks and its empirical applications within the pharmaceutical industry.
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Author's Biography
Yvonne Ziegler has an academic background in business studies and a PhD in personnel management. She worked from 1991 to 2006 for Lufthansa German Airlines in management positions in Germany and abroad. Since 2007, Yvonne has been a professor of business administration/international aviation management at Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences. From 2010 to 2013 she was the Dean of the Faculty of Business and Law, and from 2017 to 2020 programme director of the Pharma Supply Chain Risk Management project funded by the LOEWE3 research programme of the State of Hesse. Currently she is coaching the start-up Mytigate, which markets the pharma risk management IT tool resulting from that research activity.
Vincenzo Uli has an academic background in international finance and a PhD in management and accounting. From 2005 to 2012 he worked for primary investment banks and private equity funds in Italy. Vincenzo is currently a research associate at Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences. His main research interests are supply chain and logistics management, innovation and entrepreneurship and gender studies.
Jan Wortmann holds a PhD in computer science. Jan started his industry career as a consultant for logistics execution in the automotive industry. Since 2002 he has worked for Bayer IT, currently driving digital transformation in the role of Digital Lead Supply Chain/Track & Trace. In this context Jan represents Bayer in the PharmaLedger project and leads the finished goods traceability use case.
Citation
Ziegler, Yvonne, Uli, Vincenzo and Wortmann, Jan (2021, June 1). Blockchain innovation in pharmaceutical use cases: PharmaLedger and Mytigate. In the Journal of Supply Chain Management, Logistics and Procurement, Volume 3, Issue 4. https://doi.org/10.69554/IPJD9150.
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