Should big pharma still be doing in-house discovery and early development? Maybe not, if GSK’s unsuccessful efforts to boost productivity are any indication. GSK isn’t alone: Top pharmaceutical firms face declining returns on their R&D investment, and many are losing talent to biotech. Nevertheless, big pharma still has tremendous expertise in large clinical trials, regulatory affairs, market access and commercialization. GSK’s failed efforts should serve as a lesson for its peers: It’s impossible for big pharma to re-create biotech-like innovation internally. Learn why this is the case, and gain insights into why it may make sense for big pharma to stick to late-stage development.