Limits of Biotechnological Innovation

Abstract

During the past two decades the biopharmaceutical industry has been facing an innovation deficit, characterized by increasing research & development costs and stagnant productivity. From its inception, biotechnology has been expected to counter this deficit by its revolutionary science-based approach to drug discovery. For this study we gathered patent and product data related to the technological development of the first two biotechnologies: recombinant DNA technology and monoclonal antibody technology. We studied the technological lifecycles of these technologies in terms of scientific discoveries and inventions as well as product innovations. Results indicate that over the years inventions related to these technologies have simultaneously become less radical and less valuable. Furthermore, our analysis shows that these biotechnologies have reached a stage of technological limit or saturation, which may be followed by an innovation cliff. Now, more than ever, it is crucial to examine new strategies and opportunities for value creation, capturing, and delivery, within the biopharmaceutical industry

Biotechnology Commercialization Strategies: Risk and Return in Interfirm Cooperation

“…The sample of firms is established by collecting data on patents related to the first two biotechnologies (rDNA and mAb). As thoroughly described in previous work (Fernald et al., ), the data were gathered from several patent databases using the AcclaimIP patent analysis software . The acquired data were then checked for consistency with data from the World Intellectual Property Organization, the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and Thomson Reuters's Derwent Innovation Index .…”

“…The acquired data were then checked for consistency with data from the World Intellectual Property Organization, the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and Thomson Reuters's Derwent Innovation Index . Searching for patents with specific international patent classification codes, namely C07K16/* , A61K39/* , and G01N33/53 for mAb patents, and C07K14/* , C12N15/* , and A61K38/* (but excluding A01H5/* , C12N5/* , C12N15/29 , and C12N15/82) for rDNA patents, resulted in a total of 7350 mAb patents and 9111 rDNA patents (Fernald et al., ). Our search only included U.S. patents to prevent overlap with patents filed in multiple countries.…”

An interdisciplinary analysis of genetically modified vaccines: from clinical trials to market

“…34,35 Advances in research and development and the next generation of GM vaccines can be anticipated in the coming years. We forecast the market entry of cancer vaccines and the targeting of malaria by GM vaccines.…”

Open Innovation and Involvement of End-Users in the Medical Device Technologies’ Design & Development Process: End-Users’ Perspectives

“…The idea of open innovation comes in contrast with the traditional innovation development processes [14]- [16], following more iterative processes, involving different internal but also external stakeholders and following unconventional methods of development [17]. A particular matter of interest that comes in contrast with the traditional in-house approach (Figure 1) is the involvement of new parties in the development process (Figure 2) like outsiders, competitors, universities and end-users more particularly [18].…”

“…The aim of this research is to understand the process of End-Users' involvement in the development processes of Healthcare Technologies (HTs) and medical equipment technologies (MDTs), based on the End-Users' perspective and understanding. [14] we have decided to focus our research on nurses as the main end-user and identify their concerns, thoughts, ideas and recommendations. We have also decided to add Medical Doctors in our sample because of the frequent interactions between Doctors and Nurses [34] [35] as part of a medical team, as well as the significance of the Doctor-Technology relationship [36].…”