To navigate the complex marketplace, crisis management must be in the DNA of pharmaceutical manufacturers and medical device companies. Do you know how to map the code? It’s no secret that the pharmaceutical industry is a playground for plaintiffs and lawyers and a breeding ground for multi-district litigation. Medical device companies are similarly at risk, facing lawsuits that compensate in severity what they might lack in volume.

It doesn’t stop there. Pharmaceutical and medical device challenges often go beyond litigation, with strict regulatory oversight from state, federal and international agencies. Product recalls, product tampering and manufacturing disruptions are all threats to pharma reputations. With multiple stakeholder audiences — from consumers to regulators to NGOs — crafting the right message is vital. Public scrutiny about everything from drug approval processes to medication pricing and supply challenges create a powder keg, with a single incident often the trigger for an unwanted explosion.

Uncertainty in the insurance industry and political posturing about Medicare, Medicaid and Big Pharma create a precarious situation that must be navigated nimbly and responsibly.