Business Impact of Life Sciences

Group	Teacher	Department	Language
Year 1	Jonathan Wareham	Operaciones, Innovación y Data Sciences	ENG

COURSE CONTRIBUTION TO PROGRAM

Biology is the new digital. Life science applications will have an impact in many different industry sectors, not only in biotech and pharma. Managers must deal today with IT topics like blockchain, cryptocurrencies or cyber-security. Tomorrow they will need to take into account what technologies can do for their corporation that are involving living systems and organisms. According to the synthetic biologist, Marc Guell from the UPF, "living matter is the most advanced machinery that exists? and we will exploit it.
Throughout the course, we will deal with new applications emerging from life sciences like genome editing, synthetic biology, or designer babies and their impact on existing industries. Insights on the transformation of the biotech-pharma landscape will be discussed, as well as investment tendencies in the life science sector.
This course also wants to be a bridge and enable cross-disciplinary thinking and networking between experts in economics and management on one side and biological researchers and biotech entrepreneurs on the other side.

Course Learning Objectives

Covid, CRISPR & Microbiome are terms that dominate our newsfeeds these days. These issues are not anymore just a concern for the scientific community but also for businesses and society at large due to their wide-ranging impacts. What are the major trends and challenges in drug discovery, genetic treatments, antibiotic resistance, mental health and global epidemics, and how are companies positioned to disrupt them? The purpose of this class is to provide students insight into the fascinating world of life sciences and understand the unique business dynamics of this sector.
We will go deep into the challenges and opportunities in the biotech and pharma industry and acquire insights into potential future technologies and business models that will emerge from the life sciences. While we will establish a basic scientific vocabulary, the focus will be on business: we will understand the life cycle of a biotech company, from start-up and growth phase to IPO or collaboration with larger pharma companies.
By the end of the course, participants are expected to have acquired a detailed overview of the life science sector. They should be able to understand, analyze and discuss the impact of the major hotspots of this sector. In a rapidly transforming world, the participants will also take into their future careers the learnings from cases provided from an adapting pharma industry, which recently has found new, unexpected competitors in their field from data-intensive companies such as Amazon, Google, or Microsoft.
3. CONTENT

CONTENT

1. Theme 1 Introduction The problem landscape in healthcare and life sciences Why are drugs and healthcare so expensive? ERoom¿s law Overview of the different actors in life sciences (pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, research institutes, medical devices, hospitals, insurance companies, regulatory bodies etc.) What makes a biotech successful- lessons from the last 20 years Overview of the drug development process The value chain of biotech and biomed markets Research, development and sales channels The biotech market, life cycles, & the key challenges faced by biotech companies
2. Theme 2 Patents and Partners Disambiguation of terms: drugs, generics, therapies, vaccines etc. What and and when can you patent life science innovations From discovery to product - patent portfolios Identifying strategic partners Maximizing the commercial value of your IP IP strategies for strong pharma alliances and partnerships Raising venture capital, partnering, co-development deals, licensing and trade sales Negotiation skills and understanding of legal aspects in IP deals Open source processes and products in life sciences
3. Theme 3: Financial Models in Life Science What makes a biotech fundable - Innovative revenue models Financing biotech companies: from start-up to IPO Due diligence: Road maps for investment, partnering, and M&A Pharma-biotech deals - Exit strategies for investors Financial markets & the investor perspective What the investor is looking for - How does the investor valuate your company Optimizing the investor-biotech relationship & building win-win relationships
4. Theme 4: Regulation and Ethics Overview of regulatory and legal aspects in drug development The road map for clinical trials and regulatory approvals Calendar and costs of different drug developments Good Clinical Practices (GCP), Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) - Approval process in different drug developments Cracks in the healthcare value chain Pandemics, antibiotic-resistant superbugs, orphanet diseases, and market failures Quick overview of healthcare systems (public vs. private)
5. Theme 5: Future Trends, Challenges & Opportunities General framework for identifying hype vs. reality Deep learning and AI for the development of new biological products Regenerative medicine, 3D printing, and gene therapies Genome editing Living medicines Merging data and life science Synthetic biology and bioengineering for health, fuel, food and agricultural applications New entrants: how Google, Facebook, Amazon, and Microsoft attack the traditional way of providing health The human body as a data platform

1. Theme 1 Introduction

The problem landscape in healthcare and life sciences
Why are drugs and healthcare so expensive? ERoom¿s law
Overview of the different actors in life sciences (pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, research institutes, medical devices, hospitals, insurance companies, regulatory bodies etc.)
What makes a biotech successful- lessons from the last 20 years
Overview of the drug development process
The value chain of biotech and biomed markets
Research, development and sales channels
The biotech market, life cycles, & the key challenges faced by biotech companies

2. Theme 2 Patents and Partners

Disambiguation of terms: drugs, generics, therapies, vaccines etc.
What and and when can you patent life science innovations
From discovery to product - patent portfolios
Identifying strategic partners
Maximizing the commercial value of your IP
IP strategies for strong pharma alliances and partnerships
Raising venture capital, partnering, co-development deals, licensing and trade sales
Negotiation skills and understanding of legal aspects in IP deals
Open source processes and products in life sciences

3. Theme 3: Financial Models in Life Science

What makes a biotech fundable - Innovative revenue models
Financing biotech companies: from start-up to IPO
Due diligence: Road maps for investment, partnering, and M&A
Pharma-biotech deals - Exit strategies for investors
Financial markets & the investor perspective
What the investor is looking for - How does the investor valuate your company
Optimizing the investor-biotech relationship & building win-win relationships

4. Theme 4: Regulation and Ethics

Overview of regulatory and legal aspects in drug development
The road map for clinical trials and regulatory approvals
Calendar and costs of different drug developments
Good Clinical Practices (GCP), Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) - Approval process in different drug developments
Cracks in the healthcare value chain
Pandemics, antibiotic-resistant superbugs, orphanet diseases, and market failures
Quick overview of healthcare systems (public vs. private)

5. Theme 5: Future Trends, Challenges & Opportunities

General framework for identifying hype vs. reality
Deep learning and AI for the development of new biological products
Regenerative medicine, 3D printing, and gene therapies
Genome editing
Living medicines
Merging data and life science
Synthetic biology and bioengineering for health, fuel, food and agricultural applications
New entrants: how Google, Facebook, Amazon, and Microsoft attack the traditional way of providing health
The human body as a data platform

Methodology

Given the intensive format, participation in the class will be premised on appropriate preparation and work outside of the classroom with pre-assignments, online research, or case preparations. The physical classes will include lectures, case studies, simulations, guest speakers, and site visits to leading life science research organizations such as the Barcelona Biomedical Research Park, http://www.prbb.org/.

Assessment criteria

Is the participant prepared? Do comments show evidence of the analysis of the topic? Do comments add to our understanding of the situation? Does the participant go beyond simple repetition of facts without analysis and conclusions? Do comments show an understanding of theories, concepts, and analytical devices presented in-class lectures or reading materials?
Is the participant a good listener? Are the points made relevant to the discussion? Are they linked to the comments of others? Is the participant willing to interact with other class members?
Is the participant an effective communicator? Are concepts presented in a concise and convincing way?
Final Individual Exam: Case-based exam. We will discuss the format on the first day.
8. ASSESSMENT BREAKDOWN
- 30% Pre-assignments and homework
- 30% Class participation
- 40% Final Exam/project

Type:	OPT	Curs:	1	Period:	S semester
ECTS Credits:	3 ECTS

Business Impact of Life Sciences (2235.YR.014460.1)

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