PharmaDeals Review Business Commentaries
Dr Fintan Walton, PharmaVentures’ CEO, provides monthly comment on topical biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry issues. Includes access to Fintan’s commentaries broadcast on PharmaTelevision.
Available as PDF
(Subscribers only)
Abbott Takes its Speciality Pharma Pick
From issue 78 of the PharmaDeals Review (2006-12-01)
Abbott Laboratories has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the New Jersey-based speciality pharmaceutical company Kos Pharmaceuticals. Under the terms of the agreement, Abbott will pay US$78 in cash for each Kos share, representing a total deal value of US$3.7 B. This feature looks at the rapid growth of Kos Pharmaceuticals and at the reasons why it is such an attractive proposition for Abbott to acquire. Aspects discussed include the Kos'cardiovascular products (the source of much of its growth) and the complementary assets of the two companies.
Available as PDF
(Subscribers only)
Are Purely Platform Technology Biotech Companies Playing a Shrinking Market?
From issue 78 of the PharmaDeals Review (2006-12-01)
This article is based on research done for a MBA by Priscilla Chikoti, who conducted face-to-face interviews with ten UK-based biotechs founded in the 1990s. A small platform technology survey was also carried out to supplement the interview data and sample changing company practices and individual perceptions. All the companies, whether technology or product-focused at the time of the survey, had started out with a proprietary platform technology. At inception, some 66% were purely service-based platform technology companies, but by 2006, nearly half (45%) had changed their business models from being purely service-based to drug discovery/product development. The number adopting a hybrid (technology/product) business model had also increased from 6% to 22%.
Available as PDF
(Subscribers only)
Therapy Focus: Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock
From issue 78 of the PharmaDeals Review (2006-12-01)
This feature outlines the pathophysiology of sepsis and its clinical progression to severe sepsis, septic shock and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, pointing out that the condition is a severe health and financial burden, as well as forming a significant unmet clinical need. The main treatment approaches that have been taken are treatment of the underlying infection, haemodynamic and respiratory resuscitation, and modulation of the host response. Most of the developmental effort has focused on the latter, although only one approved product, Eli Lilly's Xigris® (drotrecogin alpha) has resulted. Other therapies in development, the targets that they involve, and the companies and deals concerned, are examined.
Available as PDF
(Subscribers only)
European Mid-Sized Pharma Consolidation Steps up a Gear
From issue 77 of the PharmaDeals Review (2006-11-01)
Three acquisition deals that have been recently announced, and have a combined total potential value of US$23.4 B, suggest that the tail-end of September 2006 may be remembered as one of the defining periods in the history of the European pharmaceutical industry. All three acquisitions, each involving at least one mid-cap German pharmaceutical company, gave further weight to the argument that mid-sized pharmas are no longer sustainable in the face of global pharma's superior financial and strategic power. The deals analysed in this feature are Merck & Co.'s acquisition of Serono, Nycomed's acquisition of ALTANA Pharma and UCB's acquisition of Schwarz Pharma.
Available as PDF
(Subscribers only)
Conference Report: Drug Discovery Partnerships and Outsourcing
From issue 77 of the PharmaDeals Review (2006-11-01)
The 5-6 September 2006 saw international delegates from academia and industry meet at a Drug Discovery Partnerships and Outsourcing conference in London hosted by IQPC (the International Quality and Productivity Center) to discuss issues surrounding drug discovery partnerships. A repeatedly posed question was 'how do we bridge the innovation gap?' This conference report examines the issues that were raised during the meeting, including industry's need for innovation, and how this need can be met through collaborations with academia or outsourcing. It also details the strategies that universities are adopting to make their research of value to a pharmaceutical partner, and discusses the opening of channels of communication between academia and pharmaceutical companies.
Last Issue PDF
RSS