The Situation:
Demand for Daiichi Sankyo Inc.’s (DSI) innovative Welchol product – designed to help treat high cholesterol – grew steadily after its launch. However, the drug was only available in rather large tablet dose form and, to work effectively, required the consumption of six tablets daily. As a result, DSI decided not only to increase its production of Welchol, but also to make it available in a powder-based solution. This would make the product available to a broader age range - namely, young children and adults who may have difficulty swallowing pills.