April 2007

Tell me about your career

April 29, 2007

I’ve been asked quite a bit recently to talk about my career path. I usually begin my talks by explaining that I don’t think my path is anything to draw best practices from, and add that many of the key opportunities I was able to benefit from are no longer available, but then I encourage [...]

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Update on the price control power struggle

April 28, 2007

I previously posted how price controls and compulsory licensing give buyers more power … for a price and Abbott’s spat with Thailand, where they threatened to stop offering any new drugs in the country as a reaction to price controls. The latest developments, however, show that pharma companies do not have the upper hand. Abbott’s [...]

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Biotech 360

April 23, 2007

Coming soon, a new biotechnology magazine from The Scientist called Biotech 360. I’ve been asked to compile a list of the top biotechnology blogs. Want to know who made the cut? You’ll have to wait until May 10th.

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Abbott Gets Tough with Thailand

April 12, 2007

In response to Thailand’s decision to issue compulsory licenses for Kaletra and for Plavix, effectively bypassing their patents by purchasing generic versions from India, Abbott has responded by redusing to launch any new drugs in Thailand. As I discussed in an earlier post, price controls and compulsory licensing give buyers more power … for a [...]

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Carnival of Biotechnology

April 11, 2007

Welcome to the April 10, 2007 edition of Carnival of Biotechnology. Finance and business development On Pharma presents a report that tens of thousands of pharma sales reps are suing current and former employers for overtime – $1 billion in settlements could be at stake. H.S. Ayoub presents The Biotech Industry: 30 Years of Failure [...]

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Upcoming Events

April 10, 2007

I’ll be giving a talk at UC Davis from April 19-20th and UNC Chapel Hill from May 16-17th. If you’re in the area and would like to meet up, drop me a line

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Write a chapter for my book on Advanced Topics in Biotechnology Business Development

April 8, 2007

Following up on the success of “Building Biotechnology” (www.BuildingBiotechnology.com), I’m in the late stages of assembling a more advanced follow-up book featuring articles from industry insiders with deep experience. Join a dozen other industry insiders writing about topics in: – Business Planning – Funding – Valuation – Intellectual Property – Licensing and technology transfer – [...]

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Drug Patent Expirations in April 2007

April 3, 2007

Courtesy of DrugPatentWatch.com: Drug Patent Expirations in April 2007*Drugs may be covered by more than one patent Tradename Applicant Generic Name Patent Number Patent Expiration AMBIEN Sanofi Aventis Us zolpidem tartrate 4,382,938 APR 21,2007 AMBIEN CR Sanofi Aventis Us zolpidem tartrate 4,382,938 APR 21,2007 BIDIL Nitromed hydralazine hydrochloride; isosorbide dinitrate 4,868,179 APR 22,2007 DEPAKOTE ER [...]

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Genentech goes offshore

April 1, 2007

Genentech is investing $140mm in a new biologic manufacturing plant in Singapore. The first commercial-scale microbial fermentation plant in Singapore, and a significant International investment by US-based Genentech. This is the latest of a number of international manufacturing and R&D centers being located in Singapore, and is a sign of the growing trend of biotechnology [...]

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