Biotech Strategy Blog

Commentary on Science, Innovation & New Products

Posts from the ‘Biotech Regions’ category

AACR 2012: Promising CML & PI3K compounds from Indian company Piramal Healthcare

By on April 24, 2012

India to me conjures up thoughts of curry, cricket and call centers.  When I think about the Indian pharmaceutical industry, global manufacturers of generics such as Ranbaxy, Natco and Dr Reddy’s Laboratories come to mind.

AACR 2012 Exhibits Posters 300x225 AACR 2012: Promising CML & PI3K compounds from Indian company Piramal Healthcare

Photo: Pieter Droppert/Biotech Strategy Blog

What I don’t associate India with, is pharmaceutical drug discovery and the development of new drugs.

Pharmaceutical R&D is not only expensive, but requires a high-degree of expertise and comes with a high risk of failure.

Companies in the United States, Europe and Japan still develop most new drugs.

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Letter from Boston

By on August 1, 2011

I recently returned from a few days in Boston & Cambridge, so today, in memory of the late Alastair Cooke and his Letter from America, broadcast for 58 years from 1946 to 2004, I wanted to share with you my “Letter from Boston”.

New England is the No 1 biotechnology region on the East Coast of the United States and the Boston/Cambridge area of Massachusetts is the hub.

What makes Boston/Cambridge so attractive as a biotech region?  Amongst many, I’d suggest 3 factors stand out to me:

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BIO 2011: my top 10 sessions at the BIO International convention in Washington DC

By on June 18, 2011

BIO 2011 International Convention Washington DC BIO 2011: my top 10 sessions at the BIO International convention in Washington DC

I am excited to be attending, for the first time, the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) international convention that takes place in Washington DC in just over a week’s time from Monday June 27 to Thursday, June 30th.

This meeting has something for everyone interested in the biotechnology industry whether it be deal making, partnering, licensing, drug discovery or personalized medicine. There are 16 specialized tracks where industry experts provide insight and best practices.

In addition, there are numerous networking and social events plus an exhibit hall that showcases the world’s biotech regions and how they are promoting innovation.

This is a preview of BIO 2011: my top 10 sessions at the BIO International convention in Washington DC. Read the full post

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BayBio 2011 Annual Conference on Powering Global Innovation

By on April 20, 2011

Today and tomorrow, Northern California’s Life Science organization BayBio has their annual meeting.  Entitled ‘Powering Global Innovation” it’s a meeting that covers a lot of ground from deal making to partnering, emerging markets and company presentations.

According to their website, they plan to be live streaming to their website.  However, if you are interested in following the Twitter discussion (hashtag #baybio2011), you can do so using the aggregator below – just click on the play button to see the tweets:

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Blueprint Medicines: a start-up to watch in Boston receives $40M in funding

By on April 11, 2011

Blueprint Medicines Blueprint Medicines: a start up to watch in Boston receives $40M in fundingThe Boston Globe today reported that Blueprint Medicines had received $40M in Series A venture funding.

The VC funding from Third Rock Ventures to the Boston/Cambridge based company is reported to be the largest early-stage funding for a New England life sciences start-up.

Many thanks to @rndubois for his tweets about this that drew it to my attention. You can read more about the financing in Blueprint’s press release.

What makes this exciting news?  First it adds to the growing reputation of Boston/Cambridge as a hot-spot for cancer research.  Blueprint Medicines will be focused on translational medicine and the development of new kinase inhibitors for the treatment of cancer.

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Letter from San Francisco

By on March 5, 2011

San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge 300x225 Letter from San FranciscoI was recently in San Francisco so thought I would continue my theme of writing about biotechnology regions that I visit around the United States.

Growing up in England, I remember listening to the radio broadcasts of the late Alistair Cooke, who from 1946 to 2004 shared his “Letter from America“; the longest running radio programme ever produced.  In the pre-internet era his mixture of anecdotes, insights and reflections reminds me of modern day blogs.

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Is Orlando a future biotechnology region?

By on February 16, 2011

I’m off to a conference in Orlando today, so thought it might be interesting to follow-up on my previous post about the emerging medical device/biotechnology cluster around Austin, Texas to think about what’s happening in Central Florida.

Orlando is most well-known for Disney and theme parks, and major conferences (see my post on attending the ASH annual meeting in Orlando last year). However, the opening of a new medical school, children’s hospital and medical research institute will undoubtedly lead to biotechnology and biomedical companies considering start-ups in the surrounding area.

Florida, like Texas, offers no personal taxation and Orlando is also well connected for flight connections throughout the country.

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Austin’s growing and emerging biotechnology cluster

By on February 7, 2011

Texas State Capitol Austin Feb 2011 300x225 Austin’s growing and emerging biotechnology cluster I was in Austin last week for a business meeting (spot the snow around the State Capitol) and was interested to learn that Austin, TX is an emerging and growing biotechnology cluster.

Michael Porter in the Harvard Business Review has written about the importance of clusters of interconnected companies, universities, suppliers and service providers and how these drive increased productivity, innovation and stimulate further new businesses.  An important contributor of growth and economic development is the pool of talented workers that develops and is attracted to the local area around the cluster.

This is a preview of Austin’s growing and emerging biotechnology cluster. Read the full post

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