Commercial Functions in Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Companies

This course fills a critical gap in biotechnology (biotech) education by explaining how commercial decision-making shapes the success of biotech and pharmaceutical companies. Students gain a practical understanding of how marketing, market analytics, and sales decisions are made across the product lifecycle, from late-stage pipeline through launch and ongoing competitive readiness, and why these decisions matter for fundraising, business development, and portfolio strategy as well as for on-market execution. Designed for scientists, clinicians, sales, medical affairs, and early commercial professionals, the course builds commercial fluency through applied frameworks, real-world cases, and role-based perspectives. Students learn how commercial assumptions influence valuation, partnering, and investment decisions, and how companies decide where to invest, what to prioritize, and how to compete once products reach the market. By the end of the course, students are able to participate credibly in commercial, cross-functional, and investment-related discussions and to understand how scientific innovation translates into both patient impact and enterprise value.