Anavex Life Sciences Corp (AVXL)

[TempePhil]

More pharmas than georgejj listed, are following Anavex. Any
pharma, is interested in the competition and their products. Evidence of the interest is rarely seen. These functions are NOT publicized. Larger pharma companies will have a technical department devoted to competitive analysis. These competitive analysis (CA) departments, will study competitors products, and frequently reverse design them. With the help of the patent department, and published trials, CA tries to see what direction the competition is heading. Formal reports are produced for management and the scientists, analyzing technical data and the product, as well as estimating pricing. This is just the formal technical CA that a company does.

Sales and marketing also does their own formal market analysis, comparing and contrasting, competitive products. They also will analyze pricing and distribution, and related costs, as well as all the marketing related parameters.

These are just some examples of formal CA interest that a company will invest in. There is also considerable informal studying that companies do. Some examples of this would be, employees visiting competitors at trade shows or discussions at seminars and "consortiums".
Informal CA can even be accomplished on a message board, where news is quickly brought to light. Some here could be working for Anavex's competition.