Two years ago, when the Human Genome Project celebrated its 10th anniversary, scientists across the globe complained the massive sequencing feat had not ushered in an era of personalized medicine as initially promised. Even genomics experts like Francis Collins and J. Craig Venter acknowledged that the field's impact on medical practice has been minimal. (See BioWorld Today, April 5, 2010, and July 6, 2010.) Read More
It's become routine for current venture capital (VC) investors to buy additional shares when a biotech goes public. Initial public offerings (IPO) are no longer an exit strategy, but a further round of funding to get the insiders to the end game. The extra cash from insiders reduces the amount that needs to be raised, helps support the price and, with recent IPO pricing difficulty, has been a way for insiders to reduce their cost base. Read More
In an economy gasping for air, patents are increasingly becoming the oxygen of biopharma, fueling a litigation process that fans their value even more. Read More
