Technological, competitive and organizational competencies in pharmaceutical biotechnology: the case of pharmaceutical company Libbs for biosimilars

Biosimilars drugs aim to change access to high-cost therapies, ensuing original biological drugs after their patent expiration. Every innovation movement requires from societies, economies, and enterprises to reshuffle to a new competition level. In the enterprise’s perspective, the capabilities to manage complementary competencies (technical, organizational and competitive) and resources defines how they will succeed in the market. This paper aims to investigate the technological, organizational and competitive competencies developed by Libbs, a Brazilian pharmaceutical company, to create innovation in the field of biopharmaceutical drugs, especially biosimilars. The literature review is interdisciplinary, reaching several knowledge areas, like business management, technology economy, technological businesses, biology and biochemistry. Secondary data from sectorial reports and sector perspectives were reviewed too. The case study was supported by exploratory research, interviewing Libbs executives in 2019. The results show that the Brazilian pharmaceutical industry has virtuous cycles, linked to the strategical role of the State, its interest and the incentive policies. The case study enabled to evaluate the innovation practices which supported the approval of two biosimilars: Trastuzumabe (2018) e Rituximabe (2019). The Libbs organizational culture is compromised with innovation, but the innovation process management could be better structured, smoothing the reach of medium- and long-term targets.