16. Economics and Biotechnology  

Date Source Title Summary Other Categories
07.26.2001 Nature Scientists fear new guidelines will stifle basic research JAPAN--Science-policy guidelines issued on 11 July [2001] by the Council for Science and Technology Policy have upset scientists because they strongly emphasize the economic value of research and development, don't provide strong enough support for basic scientific research. 39. General Issues about Research
05.2001 Nature Biotechnology The biotechnology job outlook in Canada Review of the significant increase of employment in Canada in the field of biotechnology, and an examination of Canada's efforts in biotechnology in relation to other countries.
05.10.2001 New York Times Public Ventures Do Private Deals but Sometimes Are Left Bloodied Technology and biotech companies are finding it nearly impossible to sell new stock to the public, as a result, financing known as private investments in public equities, or PIPE'S, are becoming more common. PIPE'S have been beneficial to companies that may otherwise not have survived, however, these benefits have not come without some negative consequences.
05.06.2001 New York Times Patchwork Genes: A Survey of Global Genetic Diversity Biotechnology companies see a business opportunity in human diversity.  They are interested in populations around the world that have a higher-than-average concentration of rare genetic diseases.  Some companies have gone so far as to purchase the rights to these populations’ genes. 52. Genetic Banks, Databases and Biodiversity
05.02.2001 New York Times Academic Team Accuses Commercial Rival of Faulty Work on Genome The rivalry between the two teams that decoded the human genome has erupted again, with some academic biologists contending that Celera, their commercial rival, used a method that failed and in fact relied on the academic consortium’s method to assemble its own version of the genome.  The dispute is important because it may settle whether the consortium’s or Celera’s method is the better way of decoding the genomes of other species.  Also, if Celera’s work was derivative, the consortium’s scientists would gather the prizes and glory for decoding the human genome. 32. Genome Project and Genomics
04.10.2001 Washington Post Washtech Igen Shares Rise After Roche Victory The share increase of Igen is described. The more significant part of the article briefly discusses the licence breach by Roche, against Igen. Might be useful for fortress model.
04.04.2001 New York Times Oracle to Form Biotech Joint Venture Computer software giant Oracle Corp. announced it is forming an alliance with two biotechnology companies to map out human proteins and how they interact. 52. Genetic Banks and Databases
03.2001 Nature Reviews Genetics Ethical and legal implications of pharmacogenomics Legal and ethical issues are shaping the future of research studies, clinical trials and drug pricing as genomics technology becomes increasingly important in the development of drugs. 4. Ethical and Social Issues Arising out of Biotechnology,  32. Genome Project and Genomcis
03.27.2001 Washington Post Japanese Firm to Develop Drugs Using HGS Data A Japanese firm is developing drugs from gene-discoveries made from the genome project (using a firm's gene database). A discussion on the potential economic, business and pharmaceutical benefits from the human genome are presented. 32. Genome Project and Genomics
03.16.2001 Washtech.com Biotech Tax Bill Suffers Setback in Md. A Maryland General Assembly panel has rejected a proposal that would allow state biotechnology companies to sell their net-operating-loss tax credits to profitable companies.
02.15.2001 Nature Publication of human genomes sparks fresh sequence debate This week's publication of the human genome sequence by both Celera Genomics and the publicly funded international Human Genome Project (HGP) has re-ignited the debate over the relative merits of the two teams' different strategies. This article is yet another scientific and economic analysis of the two methods.
02.01.2001 Nature Commercial sector scores success with whole rice genome Syngenta, the world's largest agribusiness corporation, and gene-discovery company Myriad Genetics have sequenced the complete rice genome. But the sequence will be available only through contracts and will not be published. 32. Genome Project and Genomics
01.25.2001 BBC News "'Science in crisis' warns Labour peer" Lord Winston, speaking to the biotechnology industry, has warned of what he perceives as an "international crisis in science," brought about by irresponsible protesters, the media, and even fellow scientists. He said the growing suspicion of science in Britain was putting the nation's economic growth in jeopardy. 4. Ethical and Social Concerns Arising out of Biotechnology
01.18.2001 Nature Biotech sector still looking lively The Nasdaq just finished its worst year ever, and biotechnology stocks have been hit particularly hard over the past few weeks. But raising money for biotechnology ideas has never been easier, visitors to the sector's annual financial jamboree were told. [Some statistics on biotech economy provided].
01.11.2001 UK Telegraph £70bn genome market  hope 'threatened' by  dithering' The delay in building a £100 million "genome campus" in Cambridgeshire has frustrated many British scientists. The campus, it is claimed, is central to efforts to make Britain the "biotech hub" of Europe so that it can corner a market estimated to be worth £70 billion by 2005, an aim given enthusiastic support in a recent speech by Tony Blair. 32. Genome Project
12.21.2000 Nature Japanese genomics company offers shares in sequences Dragon Genomics, a Japanese genomics company, has developed a business model in which investors can buy shares in any of the genome sequences the company deciphers. The investment model for Dragon will be designed to attract investors who are interested in a particular project. It has applied for a 'business method patent' in Japan to cover its model, and is considering similar applications in other countries. 32. Genome Project
12.2000 Nature Genetics Who owns plant genetics? This article examines the obstacles in the way of exploiting plant genetics to the needs of poor countries. Particularly, the extensive licensing rights that constrain the development and use of agbiotech are explored in some detail in this article. Initiatives currently underway to further the beneficial exploitation of agbiotech for poor countries are also discussed with respect to both private and public institutions. There is also some limited mention of the Plant Genome Project. 4. Ethical and Social Concerns Arising out of Biotechnology, 19. General Patent and Biotechnology Information, 32. Genome Project
12.2000 Nature Biotech Moving the gene patent debate forward [Part II] This article continues to build upon a framework for achieving a meaningful dialogue between industry and civil society in the patent debate, and offers some promising avenues in which both sides can achieve compromise. It stresses the importance of public opinion, and the need to structure dialogue within both a commercial and ethical framework; connecting goals with our ethical values so that we can agree on an acceptable levels of risk; demarcating industry’s role in attaining these goals and ensuring the satisfaction of their commercial concerns; finding means of attaining non-industry goals in biotech; and finally establishing regulatory regimes to protect health and the environment. 3. Theory of Patents, 16. Economics and Biotechnology Patents
12.2000 Nature Biotech Dutch bill unlikely to revive industry Intended to boost investor confidence in the Netherlands' flagging biotechnology industry, the Dutch parliament is considering a bill that clarifies the country's position by bringing together in one document various efforts and policies already in operation. The article describes the specifics of the bill and presents a look at the current Dutch government policy informing biotech in the country and its effect on industry.
12.2000 Nature Biotech Italian minister axes GMOs Italian minister of agriculture Alfonso Pecoraro Scanio has explicitly told scientists they will no longer receive funding from the ministry unless they eliminate GMOs entirely from their experiments. 29. GMOs
12.2000 Nature Biotech Avoiding Frankendrugs Lessons learned from the public backlash on agbiotech experience and discussion on how to prevent a similar fate for health biotech. Most important among the preventative measures is the need to engage the public early on with education and an opportunity for deliberation. Examples of successful dialogue between industry and public, as well as current attempts to solicit public participation are briefly described. 4. Ethical and Social Social and Concerns Arising out of Biotechnology
12.19.2000 Washington Post (Washtech.com) A Boon for Biotech Biotech companies are looking at more ways to partner with other biotechs, rather than linking with pharmaceutical companies.
12.14.2000 Nature Publication deal for Celera sparks row over data access Science magazine has released details of the terms under which it plans to publish Celera Genomics' paper on the human genome - and drawn sharp criticism over the limits that the terms set on data access. The necessary ‘material transfer agreements’ could have disproportionate effects on bioinformaticians and the private sector. 32. Genome Project
12.14.2000 Nature Forces for collaboration falter with human genome in sight The cooperation that characterized the international HGP is shifting rapidly towards competition as the project's members vie to decipher the genetic codes of other species, and adopt methods of sequencing more amenable to individual pursuits rather than concerted efforts. 32. Genome Project
11.30.2000 Nature Australians hunt for Tonga's disease genes In an agreement brokered by the International Diabetes Institute, Autogen has won the right to search for links to disease in the gene pool of the Tonga’s 108,000 residents. Autogen's main interest is in finding links to diabetes and obesity, both of which are common on Tonga.
11.28.2000 Pacific Islands Report Tonga Agrees to DNA Commercialization An example of country-commercial cooperation in biotechnology development. Here, studies are conducted using genetic data from the Tonga population. Commercialization benefits are explained. 52. Genetic Banks and Databases
11.27.2000 Wired News Tonga Sells Its Old, New Genes An Australian biotechnology company, Autogen Limited has signed an agreement with Tonga's Ministry of Health to build its own private genetic database from the 108,000 people of the Kingdom of Tonga.
11.2000 Nature Biotech Finding common cause in the patent debate [Part I of II] This is a groundbreaking and insightful framework for discussing the relevant concerns between industry and civil society with respect to the biotechnology patent debate. The author deconstructs both industry's claims for strong patent rights--by commenting on the implications of patent rights in biotechnology (and the false assumptions about these rights)--and opponents of biotech patents--by illustrating the fallacies of their respective arguments. The author also notes that both industry and critics make the same mistake in the debate, namely they overestimate the effect of patent rights in spurring innovation.
07.03.2000 Globe and Mail Biotech issues attract investors $1.57-billion raised in first six months Survey of investment, stock prices, and financings for biotech companies
07.01.2000 Globe and Mail Take the shotgun approach if you buy genome stocks, Jeffrey Rubin says. Although gene therapy is still in its infancy, its economic potential exceeds that of the so-called Internet economy. Even broadly defined, the information economy is at about 8 per cent of U.S. GDP. E-commerce represented less than 1 per cent of U.S. retail sales last Christmas. By comparison, the health economy, at 14 per cent of GDP, is almost twice the size of the information economy. And given the demographic profile of North America over the next 20 years, that share is likely to grow. Yet information economy stocks listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market have 14 times the capitalization of Nasdaq biotech stocks. If genomics becomes the market's new technological paradigm, are there lessons to be gleaned from the Internet experience?If there is one lesson, it's that picking individual winners in a period of explosive technological change is needlessly risky. 32. Genome Project