Dr. Sophie Kornowaski-Bonnet, Head of Roche Partnering Interviewed by Bloomberg News
Reporter: Aviva Lev-Ari, PhD, RN
Dr. Sophie: (S) Big Pharma is seeking innovations
Bloomberg News (BN): How to you find Opportunities?
Dr. Sophie: 1000 opportunities reviewed, right technology
Academic Centers are targeted. More products have their patents in Academia than from other sources
BN: Valuation effect?
S: Do homework to know the companies, cautions, that heat of deal will not derail the initial purpose. – last 48 hours, continue to avoid a product that will fail.
BN: Evaluation an Opportunity- Factors
S: Dialogue between Roche and Biotech firm, Trust is not to be undervalued
BN: Commercial return on Product in what stage?
S: the RANGE is known, play with hypothesis. Understand the numbers, deal to be compared with research, be able to go back to the science and the finance at its origin
S: Biotech relations with Big Pharma are important, Biotech takes 2-3 years, value can be lost, competition among biotech – interfere with the business relations in formation
BN: Roche is a Cancer Company, infectious disease,
S: Roche known for Gram Negative, Immunology degenerative diseases
BN: Oncology, inhibitor epigenetics, pipeline in Oncology is rich,
S: Combination therapy of 3-4 drugs as a therapy, disproportional success with combination
From the Audience: examples
S: genomics of RNA,
Question from the Floor:Roche, did Syntex deal, increase competition
S: competition is good, to be the only one is not desirable, competition is good.
BN: The deal, was it fast and what were the challenges?
S: Cystic Fibrosis, Phase three of the drug was very strong,
Question from the Floor: Roche invested in molecule
S: Best in Class called Best in Disease – Sophie prefers Best in Class
S: China Labs, University in ten years — Roche needs to spend to reach market
BN: What keeps you awake at night?
S: Aligning of stakeholders, is the deal the right one, become a better listens, flexibility is key
BN: Competition from other Big Pharmas,, is it serious?
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