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THE EU DRUG AGENCY AND POLICY GROUP DVELOP INITIATIVES TO BOOST ANTIBIOTIC development and research in response to the alarm calls about antibiotic resistant strains. While big Pharma may find the market too small, these markets could still be attractive for SME companies, especially if the government sweetened the pie with longer exclusivity like in the US, or tax credits for research spent. http://lnkd.in/yUzPjw View in LinkedIn

PROFESSOR RUDDLE WAS A GIANT AMONG MEN, pioneering transgenic studies at Yale University, and his death is the passing of an epoch of great leaps forward. He created the first transgenic mice, leading the way to all manner of advances in knowledge and application. Today, knockout mice, lacking specific disease genes, and an indispensable tool in medical research. He left his mark on the planet. http://lnkd.in/X5EGWx View in LinkedIn

DIVIDING THE EQUITY PIE IN A STARTUP has as many contrarian opinions as authors. This read summarizes some of them. At the end of the day, there is no formula, and each decision must be customized to the local situation. Take in these views and make up your own mind. http://lnkd.in/QvWxhn View in LinkedIn

ARE YOU AN ANGEL INVESTOR? This is a good read, where 10X or more can be the return if you get lucky. These are sensible guidelines for Angels. http://lnkd.in/wHB8ND View in LinkedIn

TAFFy POSTS A VALUABLE FIVE YEAR VC SUMMARY WHERE TRENDS ARE GENERALLY FAVORABLE. Indicators from several sources are trending upwards this last two years. http://lnkd.in/DjD_K7 View in LinkedIn

HARVARD AND SONY DEVELOP HUMAN ORGANS ON CHIPS, as a means for relevant drug testing. By using homogeneous patient samples, with specific mutations that respond to a drug, and eventually use this disease subtype in clinical trials to gain greater chance of success.. Rather than starting with animal testing, which is often misleading, this approach is more promising. On a second application, it may help path the way to grow organs fir human transplantation in years to come. http://lnkd.in/6--xGa View in LinkedIn

BIOLOGIC DRUGS WILL GENERATE 160 BN USD IN WORLDWIDE SALES IN 2013, and be 50% of new drug approvals in the US in coming years. Most are monoclonal antibodies. Caesar Milstein of the Cambridge University MRC Unit invented monoclonals. A framed letter on his office wall was the irritated response to his request to the MRC for a patent. It suggested that Dr. Milstein stop pestering them with these foolish requests. Needless to say, this was an historic blunder by this beleaguered licensing officer. View in LinkedIn

TAIWAN IS A GREAT PLACE TO SET UP A COMPANY. With a large percent of GDP devoted to education, a smart and hard-working labor force, and pro-business government, it has a lot to offer. I have been back and forth a dozen times, and Impax Labs (whose board I serve on) has built a huge manufacturing plant in Taiwan. Early in the company's life they raised large amounts of capital from local VCs, and have enjoyed tax incentives for the factory. Only a generation ago, Taiwan was poor, but has been an Asian Tiger, and a model of the economically possible for China. View in LinkedIn

TAIWAN HAS LONG BEEN ATTRACTING BIOPHARMA COMPANIES, in an effort to be part of the leadership ranks of biological medicines. In addition to tax incentives, it recently unveiled a 1.9 Bn USD venture fund. The country realized a long time ago that computer chip manufacturing was likely to move to lower cost countries, and initiated bold efforts to attract Bio pharma companies. With a transparent IP culture, a new corporate leadership that has been largely US educated, and a westward looking attitude, this can-do culture has built attractive Bioclusters. View in LinkedIn

THE LONDON AIM MARKET was started in 1995, and since then Tokyo, Madrid and a number of other countries (including Ghana) have started similar initiatives. The less demanding stock registration criteria and reporting requirements make these alternative sources (of often thinly traded stocks) an alternative venue for some companies to raise capital. Worldwide, there are a number of small stock market venues with differing rules. While not for everybody, these options are worthy of consideration. View in LinkedIn