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INNOVATIVE PARTNERSHIP that can be replicated in other hospitals matching startups with health providers. http://lnkd.in/jw4zzn View in LinkedIn

30,000 DRUGS IN CLINICAL TRIALS HAVE BEEN ABANDONED IN 30 YEARS, and NIH's Francis Collins suggested repurposing them through crowd-sourcing. The UK's MRC kicked on 16 M USD initiative for repurposing 22 drugs, and the US NCATS followed suit with a group of 58 abandoned drugs. These are innovative moves. Traditionally, accessing these molecules has been difficult. http://lnkd.in/wriVbj View in LinkedIn

FINDING USES FOR BIG PHARMA'S ABANDONED DRUG CANDIDATES has become a hot area, and here we have Francis Collins pushing the initiative. Many of these candidates have had toxicological testing in Man, and this significantly de-risks a molecule. Sifting from old gold mines. http://lnkd.in/wriVbj View in LinkedIn

BOSTON GAVE BIRTH TO THE US BIOTECH INDUSTRY and is now reaping the benefits with anchor companies and a critical mass. Those other bio-clusters worldwide who wish to emulate this success can learn from Boston's lessons. http://lnkd.in/ckN927 View in LinkedIn

SEEKING VC MONEY? Then you need to read this thoughtful commentary about pure investor-VCs vs former entrepreneur VCs. A key issue to watch is whether the successful entrepreneur-VC has an ego that is out of control or not. That much success can do a real number on ego balance. http://lnkd.in/qQZ-Cg View in LinkedIn

HALF OF SURVEY RESPONDENTS CHANGES THEIR BUSINESS MODEL, a large jump over the year before. Stay current or become history. http://lnkd.in/5DSrv4 View in LinkedIn

"I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT CATALUNYA" is a phrase I have heard many times since moving here a year ago, from level-headed smart executives. This is a statement that I could never imagine being uttered by a British citizen, for instance, and worldwide is a rare sentiment. Add to this sentiment great food, great weather, great culture and a modern infrastructure, and it is no wonder that Barcelona is becoming an emerging Silicon Valley. View in LinkedIn

THE OPTIMIZED CUSTOMER is a business strategy employed by many huge companies. In short, while the customer is very unhappy, they are either tied to the service or it is a monopoly. The company does not care about these unhappy customers. Tried to complain in these situations and get the "on hold" loop and more? This strategy is cynically anti-innovative, anti almost everything good about great customer relations. See it with telecom, electricity, and credit card giants. Even Kafka would have been driven mad. It is a sign of Big is Awful. View in LinkedIn

THE INVENTION OF THE LIDODERM PATCH is an interesting story. Dr Harry Hind was a bay area pharmacist in the days when they did a lot of creative compounding of medicines. His wife had herpes simplex neuralgia (excruciating pain). Weekly lidocaine irrigations gave temporary relief. He went into his basement and tinkered around with topical lidocaine formulations, and found, surprisingly, it had lasting efficacy on his wife. He got a Japanese patch manufacturer involved, and licensed it to Athena Neuroscience for 1 million upfront and 10% royalties. This product grew to a billion in sales. View in LinkedIn

A GOOD BOARD CAN BE INVALUABLE and this article offers some useful guidelines, and sanguine cautions about inexperienced or over-reaching VCs. Choosing compatible VCs is perhaps more important than choosing a good board, especially as they often have a big say in the board composition. http://lnkd.in/nTNYVQ View in LinkedIn