Brief Overview
Helix Biostructures, a CRO supporting pharmaceutical drug discovery, partnered with HCN to evaluate market opportunities for a new software product. Consultants analyzed service offerings, assessed competitors, and developed pricing and launch strategies.
To begin the project, HCN consultants conducted a SWOT analysis of Helix’s current position, identifying key strengths such as specialization and technical capabilities, alongside challenges from a fragmented and competitive CRO landscape. This foundational research informed the approach to both service pricing and software market entry.
For pricing, HCN evaluated cost-based, competitor-based, and value-based strategies. The final recommendation was to apply differentiated pricing models across Helix’s traditional service lines and its software product, both anchored in cost-based pricing, but adjusted to reflect value and market dynamics.
Finally, consultants assessed the growing role of cloud computing in pharmaceutical R&D and highlighted it as a strategic opportunity for Helix’s software. Cloud-enabled data tools were found to improve research speed, reduce costs, and support competitive benchmarking in drug development. To
To capitalize on this, HCN emphasized the importance of data security, recommending encryption and client-controlled access to strengthen trust and market adoption.
By combining strategic pricing, market positioning, and secure cloud integration, HCN delivered a go-to-market plan designed to help Helix maximize its new product’s value while reinforcing its position in the drug discovery ecosystem.