Why PVpharm trusts a partner who is willing to say no

Since 2023, international pharmacovigilance service provider PVpharm has relied on PharmAdvice for local PV support and regulatory expertise in the Nordic region. What began as a practical collaboration has developed into a relationship built on trust, transparency, and a shared commitment to doing things the right way.

A different experience than expected

When Sérgio da Costa, Head of Business Development at PVpharm, first started working with PharmAdvice, he was sceptical about whether the team could meet his requirements for flexibility and responsiveness, two factors that are critical when managing complex pharmacovigilance programmes involving multiple stakeholders and outsourcing partners.

Over the past three years, he has come to appreciate the balance PharmAdvice strikes in this regard:

“Responsiveness is always a concern for us because of the way our projects are structured. PharmAdvice are highly responsive, but at the same time they are willing to advocate for doing things a certain way because it is more efficient and because it is the right thing to do from a regulatory perspective,” says Sérgio da Costa.

For PVpharm, this combination of responsiveness and professional conviction has proven valuable. Rather than simply accommodating every request, PharmAdvice contributes actively to finding the most appropriate solution.

“They stand their ground when they believe something should be done differently, and I see that as a positive. You don't want the kind of partner who just says yes to everything,” Sérgio explains.

Why responsiveness matters in pharmacovigilance

As a provider of pharmacovigilance services across multiple countries, it is essential for PVpharm to maintain oversight throughout the entire chain of clients, subcontractors, and local partners, both from a compliance perspective and for patient safety. In this environment, responsiveness is a business necessity:

“I greatly appreciate how quickly PharmAdvice responds. The delegation path can be long, and every additional step introduces risk. We need to ensure that there is sufficient oversight throughout the entire chain. If partners are not responsive, oversight becomes harder and it becomes more difficult to demonstrate that responsibilities are being fulfilled,” says Sérgio.

Another collaboration factor that stands out to Sérgio is accessibility.

“One thing I really value is how easy it is to reach the decision-makers at PharmAdvice. If I need to escalate something, I can reach out directly to the CEO and get a response. This makes decision-making much faster and helps us move client projects forward efficiently.”

Standing firm when others would say yes

Over the years, Sérgio has worked with a wide range of service providers across Europe. What distinguishes PharmAdvice in his view is their willingness to challenge requests when they believe a different approach is more appropriate.

“I have worked with many different partners over the years, and often there is a tendency to be overly accommodating because everyone wants more business. PharmAdvice are different in that respect. If they believe something is not right, they will say so. They are willing to have the difficult conversation instead of simply agreeing.”

According to Sérgio, this approach creates trust because it demonstrates a strong commitment to compliance and professional integrity.

“PharmAdvice will say no and risk losing business rather than doing something they consider borderline. From my perspective, that is exactly what you want in a regulatory partner,” Sérgio says.

Straightforward communication creates value

Another quality PVpharm values is the direct and objective communication style of the PharmAdvice team.

“What we get from PharmAdvice is a high level of experience combined with a straightforward way of working. They are very efficient and direct,” says Sérgio.

While such directness can take some getting used to for people unfamiliar with Scandinavian culture, Sérgio sees it as a strength.

“Some junior colleagues might initially think the communication is a bit blunt. But it is not. The PharmAdvice team simply get straight to the point. We do not waste time circling around issues or discussing things that do not add value. I appreciate that objectiveness because it helps us focus on what actually matters,” he explains.

Predictability is key to consistency

In highly regulated environments, predictability and transparency are often as important as technical expertise. For PVpharm, one of the defining characteristics of the relationship is knowing exactly what to expect.

“We know we have a reliable partner in the Nordics. PharmAdvice are transparent, and we know what to expect from them. They are true to their values and consistent in how they operate,” says Sérgio.

That consistency extends beyond regulatory advice, he says:

“They commit, and they remain consistent. I know where they stand on everything from compliance to price, and that creates trust.”

He emphasises that PharmAdvice have always been transparent about their approach and willing to discuss solutions openly:

“They have always been very clear about how they work. We may not always do things exactly the same way, but they are transparent about it, and we can work with that.”

Trust built on integrity

As regulatory requirements continue to evolve and oversight of outsourced activities receives increasing attention from health authorities, PVpharm values partners who combine expertise with integrity.

For Sérgio da Costa, the defining characteristic of PharmAdvice is not simply their local knowledge, responsiveness, or efficiency. It is the confidence that they will remain committed to what they believe is right, even when it would be easier to take a different path.

“They have a backbone. They stand up for what they believe, and they stand by what they commit to. That is one of the reasons we trust them.”

The result

• Trusted local PV support across the Nordic region

• Fast access to expertise and decision-makers

• Experienced local regulatory guidance

• Transparent and objective collaboration

• Strong oversight through responsive communication