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Ready, Set, Go! Innovators Set the Pace in the Race for Faster Cures
Philanthropies and nonprofits are creating new models for drug development that cut against the grain of traditional for-profit drug discovery. Success stories range from bringing a meningitis vaccine to sub-Saharan Africa in record time to accelerating the start of clinical trials for a promising new cancer treatment. Open-source research is a key part of new models, and public and private projects are under way as well. Such initiatives may serve as templates for future drug development.
From: February 10, 2011
Road Blocks or Runways? Regulators Strive to Speed Drug Reviews without Losing Rigor
Regulators must walk a fine line between providing access to new, cutting-edge therapies and protecting the public from drugs that might be dangerous. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the world's largest medical regulatory agency, aims to speed up the process of reviewing new drugs but still faces criticism. Global guidelines for drug applications can help smooth over differences, while frequent communication between drug companies and regulators can help resolve issues in the best interests of the public.
From: February 10, 2011
Cures for an Industry Crisis: Big Pharma Scrambles to Find New Ways to Develop Drugs Faster
Companies are turning to new methods of developing drugs as blockbusters lose patent protection. These models include partnerships with universities and the sharing of once closely guarded warehouses of compounds. A key focus of the research is "translational medicine" -- whose goal is to replace traditional one-size-fits-all drugs with personalized treatments for patients with specific genetic profiles.
From: February 10, 2011
Profits and Social Responsibility: Chastened Drug Makers Step Up Efforts to Bring Affordable Medicines to Poor Countries
A decade after pharmaceutical companies took heat for their reluctance to make HIV/AIDS drugs widely available to impoverished African nations, the industry has changed its approach on pricing and access to drugs. Now, advocates for social responsibility in global health are focusing on how companies decide which drugs they will develop and how they manage operations in the developing world. New approaches include sharing patented compounds with companies developing treatments for tropical diseases, and rewarding companies that develop treatments for neglected Third World diseases.
From: February 10, 2011
Anatomy of a Merger: 'Hostile Deals Become Friendly in the End, Right?'
When Roche Holding acquired full ownership of Genentech last year, the $46.8 billion deal was the culmination of a more than 20-year relationship between the Swiss pharmaceutical giant and the Silicon Valley biotechnology company. In a recent presentation at Wharton San Francisco, Steve Krognes -- a former Roche executive who is now senior vice president and CFO of Genentech -- talked about the pharma company's decision to pursue the merger, efforts to raise capital amid the beginnings of the 2008 recession, and the aftermath of the deal.
From: September 01, 2010
The Price of a Cure? How Big Pharma Can Help Poverty-stricken Populations
How much is a cure for an illness that afflicts the poor really worth? That question is the cornerstone of a plan by Thomas Pogge, a Yale University professor of philosophy and international affairs, to address disconnects in pharmaceutical innovation that leave millions in the developing world suffering from neglected diseases. In a recent presentation at Wharton, Pogge explained how his Health Impact Fund would employ the true value of a cure to encourage drug makers to come up with medicines that would help poverty-stricken populations around the world.
From: May 26, 2010
Health Care Reform: Not Ready to Be Discharged Yet
America's health care reform may be out of the emergency room, but its prognosis remains sketchy. Passage of the historic 2,400-page legislation by no means ended the health care debate, say Wharton experts: It just splintered one massive question mark into a lot of new big ones. As one Wharton professor noted: "The current legislation is going to be in play for a good long time." But he also pointed out that the bill offers new business opportunities in such areas as medical information technology, education and methods of delivery. (Video with transcripts)
From: March 31, 2010
Pharma Is at Pains to Replace Blockbusters: Has It Found the Cure?
As the pharmaceutical industry comes to grips with the expiration of some $130 billion in patented products over the next four years, executives can no longer bank on a single drug like Lipitor to drive earnings. Instead, they are aiming to diversify their drug portfolios, hoping to develop products for far less than the $800 million-plus figure often cited as the price of bringing a new drug to market. According to industry experts, new paths involve innovative business models and unfamiliar risks, including allowing outsiders to see company secrets at earlier stages and mimicking biotech venture capital models.
From: February 03, 2010
Lean Health Care: Lower Costs, Better Outcomes
Could lean processes transform the U.S. health care system, with its spiraling costs and inconsistent quality? The industry's growing problems are creating a sense of urgency and a strong mandate for change. Lean's focus on cutting costs, increasing efficiency, streamlining processes, and improving patient outcomes may be just the prescription for this ailing sector.
From: November 11, 2009
Why Improving Global Health Care Is Everyone's Responsibility
Throughout the developing world, infectious disease and chronic illnesses confront more than one billion people living in poverty. To make significant strides in global health, governments and for-profit and non-profit businesses must find a way to foster innovative, breakthrough solutions not only to treat illnesses, but also to improve the delivery of health care itself. Nobel Prize winners and global health care experts will be exploring these issues during a Festival of Thinkers panel titled, Future Well-Being: Towards a Healthier World.
From: November 09, 2009
