Category: Uncategorized

PHARMACEUTICALS face competitive hurdles from numerous sources: the scientific risk in innovation is not trivial; then there is the Regulatory risk, where good drugs fail not because they are bad but due to trial design or lack of statistical power in a study; and finally, even when these two immense hurdles are overcome, agencies like Britain's NICE, or the US equivalent give the thumbs up or down on actually paying for the medicine. http://lnkd.in/2j4hWn View in LinkedIn

EDUCATION FIT FOR THE MASSES is clearly taking root and this is a great thing. What is missing is the campus community experience, and the one-on-one experiences familiar to all of us in university. Online learning will be different, but is a great alternative; I am guessing that the two modes of education will progress in parallel and appeal to quite separate markets, and be valued differently. http://lnkd.in/ey2B-N View in LinkedIn

THE TEDIUM OF CREATIVITY as explained in this article is like Einstein's "inspiration is 90% perspiration". An interesting perspective on the ability to coach Mastery of a subject, which is different from coaching changing one's personality. http://lnkd.in/xsQtDs View in LinkedIn

FOR MOST ENTREPRENEURS, CLOSING SERIES A FINANCING is a huge milestone, the end of months of planning, pitches, seemingly spurious rejections, and roadshows spanning many cities. This can seem like a huge relief and accomplishment, which it surely is. However, in all cases, reality quickly sets in when they understand that they have only just arrived at the start of the race, not the end, and the slope ahead is even steeper: to actually deliver all those promises. This is a good time to take a week in the sun to recalibrate. View in LinkedIn

BURNOUT IS REAL in startup pressure cookers, as much as it is in any fast-growing enterprise. Slow increases in executive workload and pressure are harder to see than stepwise jumps. Although the popular myth recommends cooking a crab in cold water gradually getting hotter, this is as painful for the crab as for the executive. Ultimately, the executive's health, sleep, temperament, and cognition are all compromised. Be acutely observant of the small signs of severe wear-and-tear, and act accordingly, or imperil your venture. View in LinkedIn

IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING A HIRED GUN CEO make sure they understand your technology. Too often big company Fortune 500 candidates do not feel the need to tackle the nuts and bolts of your business when brought in to manage an emerging company. Flush this out early and make it a NoGo with your board, or you will spend a lot of time, money, and distraction firing the lame duck CEO later. http://lnkd.in/e2F4g5 View in LinkedIn

VACCINES ARE NOW AGAINST CANCER AND OTHER NON-INFECTIOUS DISEASES. Increasing numbers of clinical trials are for vaccines against a wide range of diseases, especially using DNA vaccines. The concept is simple: prompt the body to recognize the disease marker molecules by immunological recognition, followed by combined cellular and antibody defenses. The idea of preventative medicine has been remarkably slow to be adopted, but this is a bright path in that direction. View in LinkedIn

IF YOU NEED BRAINSTORMING AND OUT OF THE BOX THINKING read this short but interesting article. http://lnkd.in/UsDNsj View in LinkedIn

WHY SETTING UP A FOREIGN OFFICE MATTERS. For example: you are an emerging European company seeking foreign financing, because it is a dry well in Europe. You target US VCs. Guess what? Unless you are in an easy travel radius from their offices, not a prayer. Set up a Palo Alto office, so you can meet them on their doorstep, hold future board meetings there, and so on. Instantly remove the first objection to saying yes. A US subsidiary may also make you eligible for US grants and other money. View in LinkedIn

FUTURE HIGHER EDUCATION WILL BE BIFURCATED into online learning and the traditional campus-based university, and both have their value and will serve different markets with different needs. http://lnkd.in/iER-Rs View in LinkedIn