New Priorities for Biotech in the Global Market

New Priorities for Biotech in the Global Market
by Sylvia Norman, PhD, PMP

Dr. Trevor Mundel, President of the Global Health Division, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation provided an inspiring start to the 2014 BIO International Convention forums on Emerging Opportunities in Global Markets. In a plenary session interview with journalist David Brancaccio, he discussed the soon-to-be released 2013 Global Burden of Disease Study. The study focused on the 70 poorest countries of the world and identified infectious diseases (TB, malaria, HIV, childhood pneumonia, etc.) as the highest priority for disease prevention and treatment. Dr. Mundel said that in spite of technological advances in vaccines and diagnostics, mosquito netting for beds remains the most cost-effective intervention against malaria. Why? Current vaccines and diagnostics for infectious diseases do not address the developing countries market need for low-cost products, distribution and long-term ambient temperature shelf life.

When asked for a list of the Gates Foundation's top priority biotech products, Dr. Mundel responded:
1) an infection control surveillance device that detects if a person in the room has an infectious disease
2) biomarkers for predicting risk of preterm birth

Poor return on investment (ROI) is frequently cited as a reason for not developing products for use in developing countries. David Brancaccio and Dr. Mundel said that every day 20,000 children die of treatable diseases. The majority of these occur in developing countries where infectious diseases, not diabetes or cancer are the primary cause of disease-related deaths. With a statistic like that, isn't it time for our Biotech industry to realign our priorities and broaden the definition of ROI?

Check out the BIO Buzz Center interview with Dr. Mundel for more information on how Biotech can help prevent deaths from treatable diseases in developing countries.

Biotech Opportunities in Emerging Markets - 2014 BIO Updates

Biotech Opportunities in Emerging Markets - 2014 BIO Updates
by Sylvia Norman, PhD, PMP

One of the highlights of the 2014 BIO International Convention in San Diego June 23-26, 2014 will be the forums on Emerging Opportunities in Global Markets. Marketplace Morning Report host David Brancaccio will kick-off the program with an interview of Dr. Trevor Mundel, President of the Global Health Division, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The 3 day program includes half day sessions on China's biotech industry, Russia's pharmaceutical industry and the biotech/pharma landscapes in Brazil & India. Additional sessions on emerging markets in Africa and the Middle East, updates on patent & regulatory policy trends and trade agreements will round out the schedule.

In recent years, economic woes, political turmoil, regulatory compliance issues and allegations of misconduct have seemingly dimmed the once bright prospects of investing in emerging biotech/pharma global markets. Or maybe not. Just last month Sequoia Capital announced a $530 million investment fund intended to benefit healthcare and technology startups in India: India Tech and Healthcare Startups Investment. In April 2014 the formation of the Brazilian Industrial Biotech Association (ABBI) was announced. This new trade association collaborative between Brazil and leading global biotech companies & institutions has the goal of promoting interaction between stakeholders, policy makers and the public to improve Industrial Biotech R&D funding, regulatory policy and patent legislation. Global partnering with China biotech/pharma and recent US facility expansions to other Asian countries is on the increase.

The 2014 BIO convention program on emerging markets and daily International Market Briefings provide a great opportunity to learn the current status of global market biotech/pharma collaborations. The Exhibit Hall International Pavilions and hospitality receptions will provide welcome opportunities to network and explore synergies between businesses. Stay tuned this week as I explore opportunities to bring global collaborations to my business.

LONGEVITY - Genetics, Diagnostics and a Good Attitude

LONGEVITY – Genetics, Diagnostics and a Good Attitude

This week my mom will be celebrating her 100^th birthday. Relatives and friends will be arriving from all over the country to help her celebrate this momentous occasion. It seems like we hear of people reaching this milestone fairly frequently, but it still has the power to amaze. People who don't even know my mom have asked me to relay their heartfelt congratulations. The most amazing part is that my mom doesn't think she’s “old”. In her mind, she’s at least 20 years younger. Mom keeps up with current events, plays cards, makes new friends and remembers things I've long forgotten. In fact, until 3 years ago, mom was living by herself on a farm, gardening and mowing her lawn. Good health, a sharp mind and a willingness to keep learning new things – isn't that what we all hope for in our senior years?  But how do we make sure we attain that? Can we somehow avoid the diseases that plague many senior citizens e.g. Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Type 2 diabetes, strokes, heart disease and cancer? Or are we at the mercy of our family genetics?

Recently, we've been hearing a lot about 2 research projects addressing these questions by utilizing advances in genetics and medicine to look for clues to longevity - The Human Longevity, Inc project and The 90+ Study.

The Human Longevity Inc project  - Dr. J. Craig Venter recently announced the goal of his new company, Human Longevity Inc.(HLI), is to sequence the genomes of over 40,000 individuals per year to identify ways to live longer and healthier lives. HLI co-founder Dr. Peter Diamandis apparently agrees with my mom's view of her age, declaring "100 will become the new 60".

The 90+ Study - The University of California, Irvine 90+ Study compiled physical, cognitive and questionnaire data from 1600 retirement community residents over the age of 90. In a recent interview, Dr. Claudia Kawas revealed a few surprising results e.g. taking vitamins didn't contribute to longer life, moderate alcohol consumption (2 drinks/day) increased longevity, exercising just 15 minutes per day and keeping socially active also contributed to extended life expectancy. The 90+ Study has been granted an extension to include PET and MRI scan experiments to study Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia in this population.

How will sequencing genomes and PET/MRI scans help unlock the secrets to longevity? Understanding the genes and biological pathways contributing to diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Type 2 diabetes, strokes, heart disease and cancer will help physicians find more effective ways to diagnose and treat these diseases. Molecular diagnostics and personalized medicine will play a primary role in this effort by providing medical tests that physicians can use to monitor the health of aging patients and determine the best course of prevention or treatment of age-related diseases.

It's important to keep in mind that advances in longevity genetics, diagnostics and medicine won't translate into eternal youth anytime in the near future. We can still expect to acquire certain diseases, gain weight, move slower and look older as we age. That's where the good attitude comes in. Mom wakes up every day looking forward to what new surprises and challenges life will bring her. In fact, I'm sure that attitude is at least partially responsible for her longevity. Happy 100th Birthday, Mom!