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The Challenge of Technology Transfer and University Spin-Outs

In the December 2006 edition of the PharmaVentures Business Review, we take a look at the current state of technology transfer and the challenge of taking innovative IP from the University lab to the marketplace. We review the process of technology transfer and examine some of the trends in technology transfer deal making across the past 10 years. Our panel of experts discuses some of the key challenges that must be tackled in order to successfully commercialise new innovation and, as always, we review some of the big deals that have taken place during the past month.

To learn more about the major deals and transactions from the previous month’s industry activity, you should view PharmaDeals Intelligence bank, a comprehensive and global source of deals information. With financial information, news alerts and legal agreements, this searchable resource, which is compiled by analysts and consultants, is an essential deal making tool.

• AstraZeneca's US$700 M deal with Royalty Pharma for the Humira™ royalty stream
• Abbott Laboratories' US$3.7 B acquisition of Kos Pharmaceuticals
• 3M's US$2 B divestment of its pharmaceutical business units to four different companies
• Genentech's plan to acquire Tanox for US$919 M

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The Month in Review

Analysis of the following major deals and transactions from the past month's industry activity:

To learn more about the major deals and transactions from the previous month’s industry activity, you should view PharmaDeals Intelligence bank, a comprehensive and global source of deals information. With financial information, news alerts and legal agreements, this searchable resource, which is compiled by analysts and consultants, is an essential deal making tool.

• AstraZeneca's US$700 M deal with Royalty Pharma for the Humira™ royalty stream
• Abbott Laboratories' US$3.7 B acquisition of Kos Pharmaceuticals
• 3M's US$2 B divestment of its pharmaceutical business units to four different companies
• Genentech's plan to acquire Tanox for US$919 M

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The Business Report

In this month’s business report, we take an overview of the technology transfer process and provide a summary of the various steps involved in taking an idea from university laboratories to the market-place. We also examine some of the trends that PharmaVentures' business analysts have been observing in technology transfer deals over the past decade, looking at both product- and technology-based deals, and asking which academic centres have been most active in licensing their technology.

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Meet the Experts

This month, Fintan Walton leads our panel of industry experts in a discussion about technology transfer and the creation of start-up companies based on university IP. They review the key issues that face companies such as CRT, MRC Technology and Ipso Ventures in the drive to generate commercial value from academic innovation. They discuss the importance of the selection procedure when trying to identify suitable partners, and the need to engage the industry on a global scale. They also investigate some of the alternative funding options that technology transfer organisations are employing to overcome the current risk-averse biotech investment community.

On the panel this month:

Dr Adrian Ibrahim,
Senior Business Manager, Cancer Research Technology

Dr Mike Dalrymple,
Director of Business Development, MRC Technology

Simon Hunt,
Executive Chairman, Ipso Ventures