Capabilities
US Payer Market
The US Payer Market for pharmaceuticals is now complex and intensely critical for the marketing success of prescription medicines
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Oligopoly of 3 pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) - "Buying Power"
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Proliferation of vertical/horizontal integration within the US Payer Market
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US Payers now control > 75% of government sponsored prescription-insured programs (Medicare/ Medicaid)
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Stagnation due to NDC Blocks of newly launched prescription medicines
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Increased gross-net pressure
Capabilities
Strategy for selling and marketing of prescription medicines in the US Payer market
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Strategic Plan Development
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Tactical Plan Workflow
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Sales Force Deployment
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Marketing Messaging for US Payers
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Gross-Net Analysis
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Payer Account Management Augmentation and Oversight
US Payer Market Research
US Payer Sales Force Training
Who We Are
Steve Stefano
Managing Partner
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40+ years Industry experience
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Approximately 30 years US Payer experience
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3 years leader of Primary Care Sales Force (GlaxoWellcome)
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10 years Leader of GlaxoWellcome/GSK Specialty Divisions (HIV, Oncology, and NeuroHealth) with full P & L responsibility
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1 year leader of GSK US Business Development Division
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Co-founder of SynopiaRx – Inizio acquired by Ashfield in 2012
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Executive team member of Ashfield Payer Market Acess & CEO (2012-2024)
Bill Leonard
Managing Partner
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40+ years Industry experience
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Approximately 30 years US Payer experience
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Led GSK National Account Teams
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Developed multiple payer contracting strategies across dynamic payer landscape
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Co-founder of SynopiaRx – Inizio acquired by Ashfield in 2012
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Executive team member of Ashfield Payer Market Access (2012- 2022)
Career Highlights
In 1986, Bill Leonard and Steve Stefano pioneered the development of Glaxo Pharmaceutical’s commercial strategy and field implementation for the US Payer Managed Care Markets. They both continued to lead this function for GlaxoWellcome and Glaxo SmithKline until 2010.
Their primary responsibilities were to ensure optimal formulary placement and reimbursement for the organization’s medicines through both private and public US Payers. In that regard, Leonard and Stefano addressed many payer changes inclusive of Health Insurers and Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) consolidation, the acquisition of PBMs by leading pharmaceutical companies (e.g. Merck, SmithKline, and Eli Lilly), as well as significant changes in both Medicare and Medicaid. During these changing times they developed keen strategic initiatives and tactical plans which were utilized successfully to ensure widespread payer access for the company’s leading brands.
In 2001 Bill Leonard and Steve Stefano engineered a landmark program – the creation of Glaxo SmithKline’s (GSK) “Orange Card” which created for the first time a drug benefit for GSK’s medicines for Medicare-eligible patients. Upon GSK’s establishment of the Orange Card, several companies followed leading to the creation of “Together Rx”. Subsequently, the Orange Card and Together Rx catalyzed the passage of the Medicare Part D Bill in 2006.
In 2010, after leaving GSK, Leonard and Stefano founded SynopiaRx (a US Payer consulting firm), which was acquired by Ashfield Healthcare of United Drug in 2012. In their roles as Managing Directors, they consulted with numerous pharmaceutical companies for the development of US Payer access strategies and field implementation. Subsequently, in 2024, Leonard and Stefano developed ReprizioRx which provides similar capabilities to pharmaceutical organizations.
Clients
Testimonials
I have had the privilege of working with Steve and Bill. They know everything there is to know about payers and access space. I have had a front row seat to both Steve and Bill solving tough problems for Pharma clients, they are impressive.
Mary Anne Greenberg
As A Senior Executive for Merck, Glaxo and Amgen, I experienced many opportunities to learn from team members. No one however taught me more about managed care than Steve Stefano and Bill Leonard.
George Morrow
Board Member, Neurocrin
I have known and worked with Steve Stefano and Bill Leonard over the years. They are incredibly knowledgeable and experienced professionals in the payer and managed care arena. They will be a great asset to any company seeking guidance on pricing and contracting.
George Abercrombie
Adjunct Professor, Duke University
FUQUA School of Business
Strategic and straightforward is the kind of advice I welcome from Steve and Bill. I have reached out several times for advice in navigating an increasingly complex access environment and have been completely satisfied and comfortable with the determined directions. They always have my unqualified referral.”
Dr Ted Witek
Viragem Consulting
Toronto
I have had the pleasure of working closely with Steve Stefano and Bill Leonard, as both a Chief Commercial Officer and a Board Director, on behalf of several biopharma companies launching transformative products. Their knowledge of US payer access and reimbursement strategies, and how to flawlessly execute them, is unmatched in my experience. I recommend them without reservation.
Jim Daly
Strategic and straightforward is the kind of advice I welcome from Steve Stefano and Bill Leonard. I have reached out to them several times for advice in navigating an increasingly complex access environment and I have had the chance to work with several companies that utilized Steve and his team (Ashfield) over the years and all have been very complimentary of their work and benefited greatly.”
Mike Kaufman
Former Fortune 15 CEO and Board Member
Steve Stefano and Bill Leonard are well known and accomplished Market Access Executives within the Pharma Industry.Their combined knowledge and experience makes them well prepared to help Pharma clients strategically navigate through the complexities of the Payer/Managed Care Marketplace.
I have had the opportunity to work with both individuals over the years.
Ed Korenkiewicz
VP, Pricing & Market Access
Aquestive Therapeutics
Steve Stefano and Bill Leonard have a wealth of knowledge in managed care pharmacy, being pioneers in crafting market access strategies for rapid market uptake of new brands. They both have an intricate knowledge of how each of the largest PBMs and national health plans have evolved over the years and how they contract today which provides their pharmaceutical industry customers with deep insights into pricing, marketing and contracting strategies to optimally position new drugs as well as mature brands for successful uptake.
Diane Giaquinta, PharmD, FAMCP
President
StrategiCare Inc
Having previously been the President of Janssen and at the time the CEO of a Specialty Pharmacy Company, I had high expectations for results in the Market Access area but was limited in my ability to internally hire the expertise that was needed. I was very fortunate to find Steve and Bill who have exceptional experience in Commercialization and Market Access but had a business model that allowed me to get that expertise at a price I could afford. I set a high bar for them when I engaged them and they ended up producing results that soared over that bar. In addition, they are great people and a pleasure to work with.
Peter Miller
Former President of Janssen, CEO of Take Care Health Systems and CEO of Optinose
Get In Touch
We’re here to help you take the first step
Podcast
Article
Rx Power Struggle: How Pharma can Flip the PBM Script
September 13, 2024
Recent Media
Recent Media
In this episode, we explore the evolution and future of the Pharmacy Benefit Management (PBM) industry with insights from two seasoned pharma managed care executives. We discuss the early role of PBMs, their acquisition by pharmaceutical companies, and subsequent industry consolidation. We examine how vertical integration of the PBMs transformed their business model, including the restricted formularies that gave rise to rebates. We also address evolving PBM-manufacturer relationships, the effects of public scrutiny, and predictions for key trends. Join us for a comprehensive look at the past, present, and future of PBMs, focusing on the changes needed to better serve patients.
Our Latest Resources
Testimonials
I have had the privilege of working with Steve and Bill. They know everything there is to know about payers and access space. I have had a front row seat to both Steve and Bill solving tough problems for Pharma clients, they are impressive.
Mary Anne Greenberg
As A Senior Executive for Merck, Glaxo and Amgen, I experienced many opportunities to learn from team members. No one however taught me more about managed care than Steve Stefano and Bill Leonard.”
George Morrow
Board Member, Neurocrin
I have known and worked with Steve Stefano and Bill Leonard over the years. They are incredibly knowledgeable and experienced professionals in the payer and managed care arena. They will be a great asset to any company seeking guidance on pricing and contracting.
George Abercrombie
Adjunct Professor, Duke University
FUQUA School of Business
Strategic and straightforward is the kind of advice I welcome from Steve and Bill. I have reached out several times for advice in navigating an increasingly complex access environment and have been completely satisfied and comfortable with the determined directions. They always have my unqualified referral.”
Dr Ted Witek
Viragem Consulting
Toronto
I have had the pleasure of working closely with Steve Stefano and Bill Leonard, as both a Chief Commercial Officer and a Board Director, on behalf of several biopharma companies launching transformative products. Their knowledge of US payer access and reimbursement strategies, and how to flawlessly execute them, is unmatched in my experience. I recommend them without reservation.
Jim Daly
Strategic and straightforward is the kind of advice I welcome from Steve Stefano and Bill Leonard. I have reached out to them several times for advice in navigating an increasingly complex access environment and I have had the chance to work with several companies that utilized Steve and his team (Ashfield) over the years and all have been very complimentary of their work and benefited greatly.”
Mike Kaufman
Former Fortune 15 CEO and Board Member
Steve Stefano and Bill Leonard are well known and accomplished Market Access Executives within the Pharma Industry.Their combined knowledge and experience makes them well prepared to help Pharma clients strategically navigate through the complexities of the Payer/Managed Care Marketplace.
I have had the opportunity to work with both individuals over the years.
Ed Korenkiewicz
VP, Pricing & Market Access
Aquestive Therapeutics
Steve Stefano and Bill Leonard have a wealth of knowledge in managed care pharmacy, being pioneers in crafting market access strategies for rapid market uptake of new brands. They both have an intricate knowledge of how each of the largest PBMs and national health plans have evolved over the years and how they contract today which provides their pharmaceutical industry customers with deep insights into pricing, marketing and contracting strategies to optimally position new drugs as well as mature brands for successful uptake.
Diane Giaquinta, PharmD, FAMCP
President
StrategiCare Inc
Having previously been the President of Janssen and at the time the CEO of a Specialty Pharmacy Company, I had high expectations for results in the Market Access area but was limited in my ability to internally hire the expertise that was needed. I was very fortunate to find Steve and Bill who have exceptional experience in Commercialization and Market Access but had a business model that allowed me to get that expertise at a price I could afford. I set a high bar for them when I engaged them and they ended up producing results that soared over that bar. In addition, they are great people and a pleasure to work with.
Peter Miller
Former President of Janssen, CEO of Take Care Health Systems and CEO of Optinose