Ethics, risk and compliance (ERC) has become a priority for organizations around the world, more so for pharmaceutical companies. The pharma sector, by nature, is volatile and given this, individual companies have put in considerable efforts to develop robust ERC frameworks and guidelines to be abided to. Initially considered as different departments, ERC has evolved to become a single function and has been a strategic enabling partner for organizations. The need for an upgrade The pharmaceutical industry is rapidly changing and this ever shifting landscape calls for an upgrade in the ERC function as well. The truth is that without modernizing ERC operations, it will eventually become difficult for pharma companies to leverage ERC’s expertise. We are witnessing the way regulatory requirements are becoming more stringent and the growth in the regulators’ precision and speed to identify risks. As these factors increasingly come into play, the ERC function will have to become more agil