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The imperative to conserve resources and minimize operational expenses has spurred a notable increase in the adoption of lean manufacturing within the context of the circular economy across diverse industries in recent years. However, a notable gap exists in the research landscape, particularly concerning the implementation of lean practices within the pharmaceutical industry to enhance circular economy performance. Addressing this void, this study endeavors to identify and prioritize the pivotal drivers influencing lean manufacturing within the pharmaceutical sector.

The outcome of this rigorous examination highlights that “Continuous Monitoring Process for Sustainable Lean Implementation,” “Management Involvement for Sustainable Implementation” and “Training and Education” emerge as the most consequential drivers. These factors are deemed crucial for augmenting circular economy performance, underscoring the significance of management engagement, training initiatives and a continuous monitoring process in fostering a closed-loop practice within the pharmaceutical industry.

The findings contribute valuable insights for decision-makers aiming to adopt lean practices within a circular economy framework. Specifically, by streamlining the process of developing a robust action plan tailored to the unique needs of the pharmaceutical sector, our study provides actionable guidance for enhancing overall sustainability in the manufacturing processes.

This study represents one of the initial efforts to systematically identify and assess the drivers to LM implementation within the pharmaceutical industry, contributing to the emerging body of knowledge in this area.

This study investigates the impact of US political sanctions on innovation and fraudulent activities within Iranian businesses affected by sanctions. Additionally, it explores the moderating role of intellectual capital in the relationship between sanctions and innovation/fraud.

The study employs a difference-in-differences methodology to compare Iranian companies before and after sanctions. It analyzes 23 sanctioned companies from 2013 to 2023, matched with non-sanctioned counterparts.

The empirical findings reveal a modest negative association between sanctions and innovation, with no discernible connection between sanctions and fraudulent practices. Notably, the study uncovers a significant divergence in companies’ reactions to sanctions, contingent upon their intellectual capital. Companies with substantial intellectual capital witness notable improvements in innovation endeavors, while those lacking robust intellectual capital exhibit an uptick in fraudulent activities in response to sanctions. These findings are robust across various sensitivity analyses, underlining their reliability and validity.

The study underscores the pivotal role of intellectual capital in mitigating the adverse effects of sanctions on innovation. Consequently, policymakers and practitioners should prioritize investments in intellectual capital development, acknowledging its significance as a fundamental driver of organizational resilience and competitive advantage.

The findings contribute to the literature by revealing the nuanced effects of sanctions on innovation and fraudulent practices while highlighting the crucial role of intellectual capital. This enriches understanding of regulatory compliance, corporate behavior and the importance of intellectual capital in organizational resilience and ethical conduct.