 |
 |
|||
|
|
|||
|
 |
|
Alliance Strategies Take Front and Center at Licensing Executives Society (USA and Canada) Inc. (LES) Meeting in Raleigh, North Carolina
TO BUSINESS, TECHNOLOGY AND MEDICAL EDITORS Among presentations during the LES Spring Meeting's opening day Wednesday was a description of a current alliance between Celera Genomics and Seattle Genetics, including a summary of why both companies believe the alliance is working. Celera identifies genetic markers and develops them into new diagnostic products. Seattle Genetics develops antibody-based therapeutics for cancer and immunologic diseases. In July of 2004, the two companies teamed up to bring new products closer to market. Paulette Dillon, Chief Business Officer at Celera Genomics and Eric Dobmeier, VP for Corporate Affairs and General Counsel at Seattle Genetics, shared the podium at LES's aptly-titled Alliances in Action Spring Meeting on Wednesday to describe the companies' alliance. Dobmeier and Dillon shared their "lessons learned" that have made the deal work so far: ---Get a mutual scientific buy-in before talking business ---Develop a full understanding of each party's needs ---Have and take advantage of complementary expertise ---Structure deal to optimize respective strengths (Seattle's antibody knowledge and Celera's capabilities in generating targets) ---Avoid encumbering each other's IP and similar assets by using devices like a third-party review process ---Maintain flexibility with fair opt-out provisions as partners move toward co-development and commercialization DIAGNOSTICS A HOT TOPIC AT LES LES Meeting Chair Allen Baum said the interest in the Seattle Genetics/Celera alliance typifies a trend at the LES Spring Meeting. He explained, "Diagnostics is a hot topic with investors here. Investors like the play because it is an easy "in and out" opportunity in terms of required investment and payout." A BIOTECH TIPPING POINT? During his presentation Wednesday on licensing and deal-making in personalized medicine, BioCentury Publications chief David Flores spoke of the dilemma when universities execute great research, but don't know how to build a product and market it. Flores described the situation when what he calls "pathfinder science" has done its job but a dearth of "translational science plus incubation" shuts down the access to commercial capacity. He queried, "How best to find the needed investment willingness at this point?" WE THOUGHT TEXTILES WERE DEAD Dr. Behnam Pourdeyhimi of North Carolina State University pointed out that totally engineered fabrics, called "non-wovens" by industry insiders, is a booming manufacturing segment in the United States, largely because non-wovens are under little import pressure. Pourdeyhimi pointed out that non-wovens' manufacture and use has enjoyed a 7.5% annual growth rate over the last six years and, that of the $51 billion annual revenues at the Kimberly-Clark company, $11 billion are derived from non-wovens. NEXT STOP: VALLEY OF THE SUN The LES 2005 Annual Meeting is set for October 16-19 in Phoenix, Arizona. The meeting theme is "Tools for Licensing in the 21st Century." GOLDEN STATE, BAY STATE, TAR HEEL STATE LES Spring Meeting host state North Carolina ranks third in biotechnical corporate home offices behind only California and Massachusetts. There are now 180 biotech companies in North Carolina, employing 21,000 people and racking up $4 billion in annual sales. ### |