Patents for Drug Development
Patents
What keeps the product on the market generating revenue to pay back investors?
1) the scientific risk is so high they need other potential sources of
innovation that their employees alone can’t create and, 2) the time lag of revenue due to the extensive time it takes to develop a drug (an average of 10 years).
Why is a complete pipeline needed?
lawsuits and strength of the patent
What is considered during valuation?
leverage experts they already have
What does biogen consider when acquiring new companies?
unmet medical needs
What is something that Biogen execs consider, but not always successfully, when developing a drug?
Private Equity
What invests heavily into the drug development process and influences the IP strategy?
in-licensing, buying a start up, or merging with a company.
What are the ways that Biogen pursues innovation?
IP Database/management software
How does Biogen track its patents and their key dates?
Take the product and the IP and lay off all of the people from the start up
What happens to the accquired company?
charitable foundations
What do all of the big pharmaceutical companies have to keep up appearances?
Expensive and Risky
What is drug development?
The original licensor company still owns the asset
The licensee develops the product and gives royalties back to a licensor.
What is in-licensing?
both in house counsel and outside law firms
Who makes up Biogen's IP team?
antitrust considerations
What does Biogen worry about when pursuing MS drugs?
Capitalist system
What is the only thing funding clinical trials?
Zero
early stage, late stage, clinical trials and commercial product
What are the stages of drug development?
Money
What does the decision of whether to pursue litigation ultimately come down to?
The total value of a product - area under the sales/revenue curve
If it goes generic sooner, a lot less area under that curve
How are IP attorneys a part of the M&A process?
misplaced assumption
What is the role of patents in the high price of drugs?
The Strength of the Patent
What is considered when acquiring or licensing patents?
Entering the generic market
What does not make sense for Biogen to pursue?
Convergance, Bioverativ, Nightstar
What are failed Biogen acquisitions?