Innovation is the key word for the life sciences and biotechnology sector. Flanders has a long and successful tradition of discovery and innovation. Some of the major scientific breakthroughs achieved there include the first unravelling of the DNA sequence of a gene, the discovery of tPA, a major treatment for heart failure, and the discovery of treatments for schizophrenia, pain management, gastro-intestinal disorders and parasitic infections.

Clinical trials have gone global. According to the National Institutes of Health, a division of the US Department of Health and Human Services, there are currently more than 58,000 trials taking place in more than 150 countries. In addition, clinical trials have been moving from Europe and the United States to emerging markets such as India, China, Vietnam, and South America.

In order to obtain a patent it is necessary to show that your invention is novel and inventive. One aspect of this is that the invention should make a contribution to the relevant field of research. As a result, when a patent application is filed it ought to contain data, usually in the form of experimental results, to convince the patent office that this is the case.

Where to start? The recession of course! In 2009 the pharmaceutical industry was affected just the same as everyone else by the economic downturn. Biotechnology companies found their funding being withdrawn or just not being there in the first place, large pharma suffered from drug pipelines drying up, and the related services industries found it difficult to win work, with their margins being squeezed hard by clients who found themselves in a very strong bargaining position.

Although intellectual property (IP) is regarded by many as an intangible asset for some companies, especially those in the life science arena, it can be the company’s sole or primary asset. Intellectual property includes patents, trademarks, service marks, copyrights, and trade secrets. Like any other asset, IP can be bought and sold as a part of everyday commerce. Even though IP is frequently traded, the valuation of IP does attract some scepticism due to doubt as to whether the value can be measured reliably.

Although intellectual property (IP) is regarded by many as an intangible asset for some companies, especially those in the life science arena, it can be …

Flanders – An attractive BioPharma Cluster. Innovation is the key word for the life sciences and biotechnology sector. Flanders has a long and successful tradition …

Quality Staff Recruitment and Retention. In 2009 the pharmaceutical industry was affected just the same as everyone else by the economic downturn. Biotechnology companies found …