BIO finishes annual meeting on a note of optimism

In a look back at the annual BIO meeting in Chicago this week, Chemical & Engineering News found plenty of reasons for the biotech industry to feel comforted by its ability to weather the economic storm. BIO CEO James C. Greenwood talked about the "perfect storm" that had greeted attendees a year ago. Execs had plenty to worry about, from their ability to raise fresh funds to the size and shape of the healthcare reform legislation that was being debated in Congress. Today, the likes of G....

Live from BIO 2010: Day three in review

Burrill: Focus on patients, not moleculesby Maureen MartinoThe biopharma industry needs to focus less on molecules and more on patients. That was one of the key messages in Steven Burrill's annual state of the industry report presented at BIO earlier this week. Article The future of pharma growthby Maureen MartinoIn his state of the industry talk, Steven Burrill outlined the steps biopharma companies are taking as they recognize that their biggest growth years are behind them. Sales growth has...

Live From BIO: Burrill: Focus on patients, not molecules

The biopharma industry needs to focus less on molecules and more on patients. That was one of the key messages in Steven Burrill's annual state of the industry report presented at BIO earlier this week. The billionaire venture capitalist touched on many points previous panels have discussed. The economic crisis of 2009, healthcare reform and the ever-rising cost of healthcare have a created an environment in which the industry not only should change, but must change to meet the needs...

Live From BIO: The future of pharma growth

CHICAGO - In his state of the industry talk, Steven Burrill outlined the steps biopharma companies are taking as they recognize that their biggest growth years are behind them. Sales growth has leveled off dramatically since the 1990s and organic growth is all but gone. Like other mature industries, Big Pharma expands its business now by acquiring smaller companies and laying off redundant employees. But consolidation can only carry pharma so far, which leaves us with one question: What...

Live From BIO 2010: A chat with Stempeutics

CHICAGO - FierceBiotech sat down with BN Manohar, president of Stempeutics, which is headquartered in Bangalore and has R&D facilities in Malaysia and Manipal. The company is in the process of bringing the first stem cell therapy to the Asian market and is focusing on about eight products. It also has reached out to a number of partners and is open to inking deals with companies in the U.S. Manohar also emphasized that his is a vibrant company focused on bringing an...

Live From BIO: FDA center directors discuss upcoming challenges

CHICAGO - FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg was joined by acting CBER Director Karen Midthun and CDER Deputy Director Douglas Throckmorton in addressing some of the challenges currently facing the agency. During her presentation, Hamburg emphasized the need for a strong FDA that makes both the public and industry confident. She added that it is imperative for the agency to attract and retain the best scientists in order to bring fresh ideas. The agency also needs to continue to recognize that...

Live From BIO 2010: Hamburg discusses advancing regulatory science

CHICAGO - FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg addressed attendees at the BIO 2010 conference, where she emphasized the need to strengthen regulatory science to evaluate the safety and efficacy of products more quickly to get them to the people. Without strengthening regulatory science, many promising technologies may be abandoned because there wasn't the know-how to see their potential. She added that she wants the FDA to serve as a gateway, not a barrier, for allowing products to get to the...

Live from BIO: What do biotech VCs want?

CHICAGO - A perennial hot topic in biotech is figuring out how to raise funding. And on day two of the BIO 2010 convention, a panel of five venture capitalists gave audience members a chance to ask questions about how best to position their companies to raise capital. Eva Jack of MedImmune Ventures noted that, aside from a strong management team and great science, venture capitalists look for companies that are able to differentiate their products from others on the market...

Live from BIO: Day 1 in review

E&Y: 2009 forever changed the biopharma industryby Maureen MartinoThe sting of the 2009 economic crisis is starting to fade. But last year's crisis was so different, so widespread and so global that it has forever changed the way biotech and pharmaceutical companies look at drug development, bringing about a "new normal" for the industry. Read more... What makes partnerships work?by Liz JonesJust what makes some partnerships successful, while others fail? A group of pharma experts...

Live From BIO: What makes partnerships work?

CHICAGO - Just what makes some partnerships successful, while others fail? A distinguished group of pharma professionals discussed this topic yesterday at the panel After the Honeymoon: Making Partnerships Work. Susanna High, VP of business planning and program management at Alnylam, emphasized the need for senior leadership to commit to the success of the relationship and ensure that hurdles are overcome. Petra Sansom of Roche told the audience it is important to establish mutual trust...