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Data warehouse deployment in pharmaceuticals increasing by 36% a year

From Silico Research

Research by Silico Research concludes that the deployment of data warehousing technology is widespread in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and genomic sectors, with 77% of companies surveyed currently deploying at least one data warehouse somewhere in the R&D pipeline. Virtually all those who are not deploying data warehousing technology today expect to be doing so by 2004. This implementational build-out will combine with the fact that individual biopharmaceutical companies are deploying more warehouses across more functions to increase the number of warehouses in the sector by 36% a year and by 150% over the next three to four years.

"Companies are adopting a strategy of deploying more warehouses rather than adding new users and functions to existing warehouses. This means that the average number of users for each warehouse is static at around 300 users and that scalability is less of an issue than often thought. We see no evidence of the rise of the ever-expanding monolithic enterprise data warehouse", said Emmett Power, Chief Executive Officer of Silico Research and lead analyst on the research.

The research concludes that the highest deployment of data warehouses is in the early discovery stages of the drug development process and in clinical trials. According to Emmett Power: "The leading role of data warehouses is in managing laboratory information management systems, with 47% of data warehouses having a LIMS function. After that, bioinformatics (47%), clinical trials (32%) and pharmacokinetics (32%) are the key points of deployment for data warehousing technology."*

Data warehousing is not a homogeneous technology. "We are seeing different types of warehouses evolving at either end of the discovery pipeline. This may limit the amount of warehouse-driven data, application and functional integration that is possible or indeed desirable across the drug discovery processes."

Today, data warehouse deployment is focused at the departmental level. "Companies believe, as a article of faith, that they should link scientists and researchers across the enterprise. How they go about doing this is another matter. We're seeing a lot of testing of federated and virtual warehouses and other middleware solutions but no clear answers so far", continued Emmett Power.

Part of the problem is measuring the payback on the investment. Silico cautions that simple ROI calculations ware not sufficient to capture the nuances of the deployment question in the biopharmaceutical R&D environment.

"The correct methodology used to address the deployment issue is a complex question. The methodology will depend upon a number of factors, including where in the R&D process the warehouse is positioned and the extent to which it is part of the R&D infrastructure. Wrongly modelling the deployment calculation and methodology will lead to a misallocation of IT resources and a lower return on R&D investments."

An Executive Summary of the Research Report and additional information about Silico Research can be found at www.Silico-Research.com

Silico Research is a leading independent research and consulting firm, analysing technological change and its impact on the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and life science sectors. Silico Research's clients receive continuous research and analysis through Silico's customized continuous
advisory services. Silico's Research Centre is located in London.

For further information contact: Emmett Power, Chief Executive Officer, Silico Research Limited, Telephone: +44 (0)20-7687 2815, Email: Emmett@Silico-Research.com

(Note: The total is more than 100% because warehouses perform multiple functions).

Silico Research Limited
126 Aldersgate Street
London EC1A 4JQ
United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 (0)20-7687 2815
Fax: +44 (0)20-7687 0358
Web: www.Silico-Research.com