General Biotechnology

The orthodox business model of many drug discovery and development companies centres on adding value to early-stage discoveries prior to engaging with large pharmaceutical companies to bring products to market. Anecdotal observations suggest some companies are moving to a ‘virtual’ business model – instead of employing in-house scientists, a skeletal management team runs the company and out-sources all research and development. This article presents a novel method to determine whether companies are virtual, based on author bylines in peer-reviewed journal articles.

Applying this method to Australian companies in this sector, the size of the cohort identified as virtual was much larger than anticipated, around 52%. The accuracy of this method has been verified statistically using interview data. This article discusses the value and limitations of this method, positing that it can be used to analyse industry and policy implications that may result from widespread adoption of the virtual model

This paper explores possible differences in investment strategies between specialty and non-specialty funds in the life sciences industry. The results were based on proprietary information collected in telephone interviews from 28 mutual funds locate…

This paper examines the roles of culture in the principles of biomedical ethics.  Drawing on examples from African, Navajo and Western cultures, the paper maintains that various elements of culture are indispensable to the application of the principles of biomedical ethics.

This article looks at the findings of Marks & Clerk’s 2013 Life Sciences Report, launched in April 2013. Of interest to both R&D/IP experts and professionals in strategic positions within biotechnology companies, it explores many of the issues facing the biotechnology industry and is informed by an industry survey of over 330 international life sciences professionals. Topics explored include the financial climate, growing markets in Asia, IP reforms in the US and Europe, biosimilars and personalised medicine.

The Journal of Commercial Biotechnology announces the publication of the July 2013 issue, featuring new papers on biotechnology management and commercialization.

A common challenge faced pharmaceutical industry analysts, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals is obtaining objective information on recently approved drugs.

This guest post is from the BiotechBlog Intern,  Fintan Burke. Fintan is a student at the School of Biotechnology at Dublin