Since the beginning of 2010, sixty percent of the materials in the Sanofi-Aventis portfolio are developed in collaborations. says a company senior who spoke at the opening conference of Biomed 2010
The opening lecture of the conference did not disappoint either. Sanofi-Aventis, an international pharmaceutical company and number four in the world in sales of prescription drugs, presented its new position on new developments. The lecturer on behalf of the company divided the pharmaceutical market into two sectors: the small biotechnology companies, and the large, commercial companies. The first type is led by innovative scientists and entrepreneurs who think outside the box. They have the right ideas, but they don't have the necessary experience to succeed in the business field. For this purpose, the large pharmaceutical companies exist, containing those with experience and knowledge in the business world, but they are devoid of the pioneers that can be found in the small companies.
The solution, according to Sanofi-Aventis, lies in cooperation between the two. It sounds very logical, but it is not easy to make it work. On the one hand, the workers in the big companies see themselves as more important than those in the small companies. On the other hand, the scientists in the small companies treat the projects as their personal children and refuse to accept constructive criticism. Nevertheless, Sanofi-Aventis is determined to bring about fruitful collaborations between the large and small companies. They reduced their portfolio by 40%, and directed all the free manpower and money to invest in new projects, with a core of efficient and talented people who work with a variety of other companies. The result: since the beginning of 2010, sixty percent of the materials in the Sanofi-Aventis portfolio are developed in collaborations.
Let's hope that the trend - cooperation, instead of takeover - will also take hold in companies other than Sanofi-Aventis, and will lead to the development of new technologies and products in a shorter time and with greater efficiency. Collaborations of this type can also promote projects that combine knowledge and expertise from different fields, such as glucose sensors connected directly to insulin pumps, or robotic hands with a link to the nervous system.
Director General of the Ministry of Science and Technology: "Our plan to establish an R&D and Biotech fund is progressing"
The Director General of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Employment, Sharon Kadami, spoke this morning at the opening conference of the "ILSI - Biomed Israel 2010" week - the main annual event of the life sciences industry in Israel. "I am proud that the conference, which was held for the ninth time in Israel, and has become over the years a brand name that presents the best Israeli biotechnology industries. The biotechnology industry in Israel is a dynamic and innovative industry that represents the spirit of Israeli entrepreneurship and the lively business community."
The conference was held in the presence of President Shimon Peres, Minister of Economy and Technology of Germany Rainer Broederl and Minister of Economy of Lithuania Damius Krivis.
Sharon Kadami also said that "the solutions of the life sciences industry and the innovative technology help to improve the quality of life all over the world. We achieve this through research in academia or industrial laboratories which require the right infrastructure and investments in R&D. The life sciences industry has grown significantly over the past decade. We experienced the success of Teva, today one of the largest and leading generic drug companies in the world. At the same time, we see the growth of the next generation of companies in this sector in Israel."
"According to IVA's statistics during 2008 and 2009, 116 out of 447 companies, (about 25% of the companies) that raised funds during that period were from the field of life sciences. Beyond that, 41% of the seed's funds were raised during 2009 by life sciences startups. These numbers prove the extent of the importance and centrality of the life sciences industries to the Israeli high-tech industry."
Kadami emphasized that the Ministry of Taxation supports the life sciences industry during the phases of the product's life. The office provides assistance from the initial stage of the individual entrepreneur through the incubator program as well as through R&D support provided by the Office of the Chief Scientist. In later stages, the office supports the preparation of infrastructure for production by an investment center. It also provides international support by introducing external investors, which is coordinated by the headquarters for investment incentives, as well as promotes other collaborations through the Foreign Trade Administration.
"Our plan to establish an R&D and biotech fund is also progressing. During the last year, 4 management groups were selected in order to meet the government's obligations of 24 million dollars. This means that if they raise $76 million by May 2011, each of them will receive $24 million, which is expected to inject $400 million into the biotech industry and help the industry realize its business potential. I believe that with the support of the government biotech fund, we will see impressive results from the industry this". Kdami said.
Kadami praised the bilateral cooperation with Germany and Lithuania which is of great importance and represents great potential for further growth and development for companies and research in the sector.
Kadami also mentioned in his words the Israeli-German cooperation program in the field of R&D to support joint projects. Another important initiative brought up by the Director General of the Ministry of Health is the marketing of Israel around the world as a clinical center. "The Ministry, through the Foreign Trade Administration together with the Ministry of Health, promotes Israel as a destination for conducting clinical research, using the heterogeneity of the Israeli population, advanced hospitals and excellent human capital from the field of medicine."
"To give an example of a number of Israeli successes in the field of life sciences during 2009, I can mention the company Medtronic which purchased the company Ventor and Alcon which purchased the Israeli company Optoniol. These are just two examples of the interest we are witnessing in the Israeli science industry by international actors", said Kadami.
Kadami added that "These successes must not lead us to the conclusion that there is no need for government support. When we look at the importance of the industry in the Israeli and international arena, I think it is clear that government support must be deepened and the models for support must be examined. This is an effort that will not be short or simple, but necessary if we want to translate the potential of life sciences into new jobs, exports and foreign investments, for the benefit of Israeli society."
