BIO CEO & Investor Conference: Mergers and Acquisitions

In a year of recession, a non-existent IPO window, more cautious public and private investors, and the need to conserve cash, it’s clear why 2008 was the year of M&A.
While the biotech industry is expected to rebound this year, M&A is still top of mind for small biotechs and big pharma. [...]

BIO CEO & Investor Conference: Feeding the need for new obesity treatments

With obesity becoming a worldwide epidemic, there’s no need to question why new treatment options are important. In fact, according to recent reports, obesity-related health and economic costs are estimated at $100 billion per year.

Unfortunately, the options currently available to treat obesity only produce modest weight loss. But what about the conditions often [...]

BIO CEO & Investor Conference: more than 5 million patients suffering

There are more than 5 million patients suffering from gout. Unfortunately, most gout patients steer clear of medications unless experiencing a flare-up.

With the gout population getting older, fatter and more complex, and with no new treatments approved for the last 50 years, is there hope for gout sufferers?

Actually, there is. There [...]

BIO CEO & Investor Conference: The New Administration & Congress: Short or Loose Change?

Speakers in a policy session at the BIO CEO & Investor Conference on Monday talked about prospective industry changes based on the new administration. Amid the discussion, speakers shared insights on health care reform and agreed that there can no longer be incremental changes, comprehensive health care reform is needed. Based on their inside knowledge [...]

BIO CEO & Investor Conference: Being upfront about upfront payments

With today’s economy, it’s important to be upfront about upfront payments in biotech licensing. Since licensing deals allow big companies to fill their pipelines without the upfront work and provide small companies with the capital they crave, a win/win partnership is important.

Today, big pharma is driven by scientific data—often from late phase II clinical [...]

Unmet Needs are in the Genes — Treatment Options for Rare Genetic Disorders

Genetic disorders known as Lysosomal Storage Diseases, including Gaucher disease, Fabry disease and Pompe disease, continue to be an area of high unmet medical need. According to physicians, it’s challenging to diagnosis these diseases and many patients often go misdiagnosed.

Physicians push for newborn screening since early detection is key to treating these [...]