Biotechnology - Genomic and Proteomics/IP Profile of Biggest for-profit companies in BGP/BGP Company Profiles - Data: Difference between revisions
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
(27 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown) | |||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{TOCright}} | |||
= | = Introduction = | ||
== | * UAEM Transparency Project <br> | ||
== | * [[BGP Table of Biggest For-Profit Companies]] | ||
=Abraxis BioScience= | |||
* Headquarters in Los Angeles | |||
* 383 employees (LinkedIn "Abraxis BioSciences") | |||
* nab technology platform (Abraxis BioSciences, "About Us") | |||
* Abraxan - treats metastatic breast cancer (Abraxis BioSciences, "About Us") | |||
* Protosphere - patented nanoparticle technology | |||
* Focus on cancer and heart treatments | |||
* 2007 splits into two separate companies - Abraxis BioScience and Abraxis Pharmaceutical Products (Abraxis BioSciences, "Abraxis BioScience Announces Plan to Separate Into Two Independent Public Companies") | |||
* 2009, 4th quarter loss despite high sales | |||
* 2009, spins off new company focusing on Biomarkers and Personalized medicine (Business Wire, "Abraxis BioScience Announces Plan") | |||
* Others/Notes: | |||
** List of publications (Abraxis BioSciences, "Publications") | |||
** Partnership with UCLA's nanosystem's institute (Marcus, "UCLA’s California NanoSystems Institute Partners With Abraxis BioScience") | |||
** Collaboration with National Comprehensive Cancer Network and AstraZeneca to conduct anti-cancer drug studies (National Comprehensive Cancer Network, [http://www.nanotech-now.com/news.cgi?story_id=30925 "NCCN, Abraxis BioScience and AstraZeneca Announce Collaboration"]) | |||
=Amgen= | |||
* Headquarters: Thousand Oaks, CA | |||
* 16,900 employees (2008 Corporate report) | * 16,900 employees (2008 Corporate report) | ||
* | * [http://www.amgen.com/about/acquisitions.html History of acquisition]: | ||
** 1994 - Synergen, Inc. | ** 1994 - Synergen, Inc. | ||
** 2000 - Kinetix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | ** 2000 - Kinetix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | ||
Line 15: | Line 33: | ||
** 2007 - Ilypsa, Inc. | ** 2007 - Ilypsa, Inc. | ||
** 2007 - Alantos Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc. | ** 2007 - Alantos Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc. | ||
* | * [http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Amgen-Inc-Company-History.html Subsidiaries]: | ||
**Amgen Australia Pty Ltd.; | **Amgen Australia Pty Ltd.; | ||
** Amgen N.V.; Amgen Canada Inc.; | ** Amgen N.V.; Amgen Canada Inc.; | ||
Line 30: | Line 48: | ||
**Amgen Limited (U.K.); | **Amgen Limited (U.K.); | ||
**Amgen Sales Corporation (West Indies). | **Amgen Sales Corporation (West Indies). | ||
* Unlike many biotech companies, has been consistently profitable. Net profit in 2006 was | * Unlike many biotech companies, has been consistently profitable. Net profit in 2006 was [http://www.pharmaceutical-business-review.com/companyprofile.asp?guid=8632C7AC-1633-4198-8551-BB79570C668D US$2.9 Billion] | ||
* Managed to turn itself from a drug research company into a pharmaceutical company while maintaining steady sales - extremely rare in the industry | * [http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Amgen-Inc-Company-History.html History]: **Managed to turn itself from a drug research company into a pharmaceutical company while maintaining steady sales - extremely rare in the industry. | ||
** Founded in 1980. By 1986 was starting to turn a profit, but did so not through drug development but through research partnerships with established pharma firms | ** Founded in 1980. By 1986 was starting to turn a profit, but did so not through drug development but through research partnerships with established pharma firms | ||
** 1987, develop erythropoietin (EPO), which stimulates red blood cell creation. Sold the marketing rights to Johnson&Johnson | ** 1987, develop erythropoietin (EPO), which stimulates red blood cell creation. Sold the marketing rights to Johnson&Johnson | ||
** Epogen proves to hugely popular - over $250m in sales in 1991 alone | ** Epogen proves to hugely popular - over $250m in sales in 1991 alone | ||
** Between 1992 and 1996, Amgen's R&D budget goes from $182 million to $663 million | ** Between 1992 and 1996, Amgen's R&D budget goes from $182 million to $663 million | ||
* It has ten approved drugs for 15 conditions, 23 agents are being tested earlier in the approval pipeline as of 2009 | |||
** drugs include: Epogen, Aranesp, Enbrel, Kineret, Neulasta, Neupogen, Sensipar / Mimpara and Nplate | |||
* As a [http://en.scientificcommons.org/40666678 side-result of this research, also publishes in academic journals] | |||
* Others/Notes: | |||
** Amgen - marketing and R&D collaborations with (Powell pp. 72): ARRIS, Envirogen, Glycomex, Guilford, Interneuron, Regeneron, and Zynaxis. these companies develop the product that Amgen later produces and markets. Perhaps there are instances of commons-like sharing here. Further investigation needed | |||
** Seems to be engaging in some instances of open-ended research with universities. e.g., [http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Axys+-+Amgen+Collaboration+Determines+the+X-Ray+Crystal+Structure+of...-a053047665 collaboration with] [http://www.wi.mit.edu/ MIT's Whitehead institute] | |||
** Further instances of academic collaboration [http://www.brighamandwomens.org/Pressreleases/PressRelease.aspx?PageID=201 here] | |||
** The results of some scientific collaborations are being released into the [http://en.scientificcommons.org/40666678 commons] | |||
* It says its [http://switch.atdmt.com/action/deicrm_N53107Policy_6 committed to] sharing clinical testing results as soon as possible | |||
=Biogen Idec= | |||
* Headquarters: Kendall Scquare, Cambridge | |||
* from Wikipedia: commercial affiliates in "Germany, France, Spain/Portugal, UK/Ireland, the Benelux, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, and Austria" | |||
* Research centers in San Diego and Research Triangle Park, N.C. | |||
* Treatments for Multiple Sclerosis, Crohn's disease, and a treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma which is co-marketed with Genentech | |||
* Most revenue derived from Avonex, it's MS treatment | |||
* 2003, Biogen and IDEC merge | |||
* Others/Notes: | |||
** Gives [http://www.biogenidec.com/site/community-relations.html] educational grants to med schools | |||
** Sponsors [http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/markets/industries/health-care/biogen-idec-present-th-annual-citi-biotech-day/ "Citi Biotech Day"] | |||
** Has US$100million venture capital fund to encourage Biotech research | |||
** Cooperated with Genentech to research and produce lymphoma treatment | |||
** Has the [http://www.biogenidec.com/site/biogen-idec-innovation-incubator.html Biogen Idec Innovation Incubator (bi3)], and has a history of buying start-ups ventures | |||
** Provides [http://www.biogenidec.com/citizenship_communitylab.html Student labs for high school students in Cambridge and San Diego] | |||
=== | =Celgene= | ||
* | * Headquarters: Summit, New Jersey | ||
* ~1,300 employees (circa 2007) | |||
* Thalomid, treats erythema nodosum leprosum ("ENL") | |||
* Revlimid, for multiple myeloma | |||
* Receives royalties from Novartis for production of Ritalin | |||
* Also offers service: LifeBankUSA, a placental and cord bank holding (Celgene, "Products and Services") | |||
* 1986, spun off from Celanese Corporation | |||
* 1998, receives approval for Thalomid | |||
* 2000, reaches licensing agreement with Novartis for producing Ritalin | |||
* 2002, acquires Anthrogenesis Corporation | |||
* 2005, approval for Revlimid (Celgene, "History") | |||
* 2009, Celgene stocks are in decline (Seeking Alpha, "Celgene Breaking New Lows, But Hopefully Not Much Lower") | |||
* 2009, reporting lower sales, apparently because of overall economic decline | |||
* Others/Notes: | |||
** Collaboration with Cornell Medical School (Weill Cornell Medical College, "Celgene Corporation and Weill Cornell Initiate Research Program") | |||
** Research collaboration with Pharmacopeia (All Business, "Pharmacopeia achieves research milestone") | |||
** Multi-year research collaboration with Galapagos (Laboratory Talk, "Celgene and Galapagos in target collaboration") | |||
** research collaboration with AxCell BioSciences (Access My Library "AxCell Biosciences establishes research collaboration with Celgene Corp.") | |||
=Cephalon= | |||
* Headquarters: Frazer, PA | |||
* 3,000 employees | |||
* Leading product - Provigil, to treat sleep disorder | |||
* Focus on Neurodegenerative diseases | |||
* has acquired the following firms: CIMA Labs, Anesta, and Laboratoire Lafon | |||
* Founded in 1987, CEO Frank Baldino, Jr., Ph.D | |||
* Failure of neurodegenerative treatment in 1992 - discovered that the drug kept mice awake, turned it into Provigil in 1999 (Cephalon, "Our Story") | |||
* 2008, sales of US$1.943 billion | |||
* 2008 - Treanda - treatment for non-hodgkin's lymphoma - approved and launched | |||
* Stock has posted double-digit earnings this year (Bennett "It's Wake-Up Time for a Drug Maker's Shares") | |||
* 2009 - seeks approval for Nuvigil to treat Jet Lag (Kennedy, "Cephalon To Apply For FDA Approval For Nuvigil For Jet Lag") | |||
* 2009 - studies suggest Nuvigil could also be used to treat Bipolar Depression (Medical News Today, "Cephalon Announces Positive Results From A Phase Two Study Of NUVIGIL In Bipolar Depression") | |||
* 2009 - (unsubstantiated) gossip that Eli Lilly might consider purchasing Cephalon (Feuerstein, "What's on Lilly's Prescription Pad?") Further rumors of take-over: (Steven, "2 Potential Pharma M&A Targets: Cephalon and Genzyme") | |||
* 2009 - bid to take over Australian biotech firm. Interest in its treatments for inflammatory diseases and cancer (Domain-B, "Cephalon opens bid for Aussie bio-technology firm Arana") | |||
*Others/Notes: | |||
** Interesting: Three areas for establishing collaborative studies (Cephalon, "Research Partnerships"): | |||
*** Pre-clinical studies - has simple online form for obtaining Cephalon products for pre-clinical studies. Response within a month. | |||
*** Cephalon-sponsored studies - can apply to work as an investigator in a Cephalon study | |||
*** Investigator Sponsored Studies (ISS) - investigator herself designs the trial, gets the regulatory approval, interprets and communicates the results. It appears that you just submit a proposal, and if approved, Cephalon will fund the study (Cephalon, "Going Further in Research") | |||
** Foster business collaborations(Cephalon, "Business Collaboration") | |||
** Negative test results are being used to further general research on Parkinson's disease (Cephalon, "Our Science") | |||
** Corporate giving for health advocacy, science education, and community building in locations where Cephalon has offices (Cephalon, "Corporate Giving") | |||
** 2006 - collaboration with Ambit Biosciences to research kinase inhibitors (B-Net, "Ambit Biosciences Announces Discovery and Development Collaboration with Cephalon, Inc. Focused on Kinase Inhibitors") | |||
** Alzheimer's disease research collaboration with Scherring-Plough | |||
** Collaboration with Abbott Laboratories to produce and develop Gabitril, an anti-epilepsy drug (PR Newswire, "Abbott Laboratories and Cephalon Sign Collaboration Agreement for Gabitril(R) (Tiagabine Hydrochloride) in the United States") | |||
== | =Celera= | ||
=Genentech= | |||
* Headquarters: South San Francisco | |||
* 11,000 employees ("Genentech," Wikipedia) | * 11,000 employees ("Genentech," Wikipedia) | ||
* Owned by Swiss pharma company Hoffman - La Roche ( | * Owned by Swiss pharma company Hoffman - La Roche ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoffmann-La_Roche Hoffman-La Rouche]) | ||
* synthetic human insulin was their first famous product, many others produced using the Boyer-Cohen rDNA process | |||
* [http://en.scientificcommons.org/genentech_inc Papers by] company employees | |||
* synthetic human insulin | *Others/Notes: | ||
* | ** [http://www.apple.com/ca/press/2002/02/genentech.html Collaborated with Apple] to create Open Source search engine for protein and DNA sequences called [http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/math_science/agblast.html Apple/Genentech BLAST] | ||
** Hoffman-La Rouche is engaging in academic collaboration to study the safety of InnoMed PredTox ("Hoffman-La Rouche," Wikipedia) | |||
* | * In general, this seems to be a company that [http://www.gene.com/gene/research/researchvision.html encourages its scientists to publish] | ||
** [http://en.scientificcommons.org/genentech_inc examples of papers] | |||
** [http://ecorner.stanford.edu/authorMaterialInfo.html?mid=1614 Video of Genentech's Joe McCracken explaining incentives to publish] | |||
* Collaborated with Apple to create Open Source search engine for protein and DNA sequences | ** [http://www.gene.com/gene/research/researchvision.html It has four-year post-doctoral program] and also offers [http://www.gene.com/gene/pipeline/fellowship/ Clinical Research Fellowships] | ||
* Hoffman-La Rouche is engaging in academic collaboration to study the safety of InnoMed PredTox ("Hoffman-La Rouche," Wikipedia) | ** [http://www.gene.com/gene/reagents-program/reagents-program.jsp Supplies reagents] for other research organizations' work | ||
* In general, this seems to be a company that | ** [http://www.gene.com/gene/news/press-releases/press_statements/ps_122007.html Worked with] the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Retina Specialists to develop guidelines and answer questions about Avastin | ||
** | ** Has a [http://www.gene.com/gene/research/resourceboard/ separate board] to advise the company on issues of scientific research | ||
** | ** Company gives researchers 20% free time to work on projects of their own | ||
* | ** VP for business development [http://ecorner.stanford.edu/authorMaterialInfo.html?mid=1613 says] the organization survives through science, not marketing. | ||
** [http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/article/19205 Collaboration] with UC San Diego Scientists | |||
* | ** Funds undergraduate research programs through the [http://www.genentechfoundation.com/about_focus.html Genentech Foundation] | ||
* | ** Provids [http://news.ucsf.edu/releases/new-ucsf-mission-bay-campus-countrys-largest-biomedical-university-expansio/ infrastructure support] for UCSF | ||
** [http://www.scienceblog.com/community/older/2000/D/200003674.html Collaboration with Rockefeller University] to look at therapeutic antibody potency | |||
* | |||
* VP for business development | |||
* | |||
* | |||
* | |||
* | |||
=Genzyme= | |||
* Headquarter Cambridge | |||
* 2007, US$2.89B operating income, $3.81B revenue ("Genzyme," Wikipedia) | * 2007, US$2.89B operating income, $3.81B revenue ("Genzyme," Wikipedia) | ||
* Cerezyme (treats Gaucher's disease) accounts for 30% of company's revenue | * Cerezyme (treats Gaucher's disease) accounts for 30% of company's revenue | ||
* Renagel, for dialysis patients | * Renagel, for dialysis patients | ||
*Fabrazyme, | * Fabrazyme, for Fabry's disease | ||
* Other/Notes: | |||
** Develops community support groups for victims of the diseases it treats, such as [http://www.fabrycommunity.com/en/ Fabry Community] and other at [http://www.genzyme.com/home/global_sites.asp Genzyme Disease Education/Research/Support Sites] | |||
** Has established [https://www.lsdregistry.net/gaucherregistry/ for victims of Gaucher's disease] | |||
** All company-sponsored clinical trials registered [www.clinicaltrials.gov Clinical Trials] and at [http://www.genzymeclinicalresearch.com/ Genzyme Clinical Research] | |||
** [http://www.genzyme.com/research/patents/pat_home.asp Partial catalog of researchers' publications] | |||
** Give [http://www.genzyme.com/commitment/community/grant_application.asp grants] for science education and health-services in local communities | |||
** [http://www.genzyme.com/corp/media/GENZ%20PR-042208.asp#TopOfPage Building outreach into China]. Will establish research center there by 2010. | |||
= | =Gilead Sciences= | ||
* | * Headquarters: Foster City, California | ||
* [http://www.gilead.com/corporate_fact_sheet 3,400 hundred employees] as of 2009 | |||
* | |||
* Growth based in large part on acquisition of other companies | * Growth based in large part on acquisition of other companies | ||
* Products for HIV/AIDS, respiratory and heart conditions, and liver disease | * Products for HIV/AIDS, respiratory and heart conditions, and liver disease | ||
* Over a dozen drugs in the development pipeline, Phase I or later | * Over a dozen drugs in the development pipeline, Phase I or later | ||
* | * Acquisition history: | ||
** 1990 reaches agreement with Glaxo to research and develop "antisense" -- genetic code blockers | |||
* | ** Goes public in 1992 | ||
** 1996 - first commercial product, Vistide, treats cytomegalovirus | |||
** 1999 - acquires NeXstar Pharmaceuticals | |||
* 1990 reaches agreement with Glaxo to research and develop "antisense" -- genetic code blockers | ** 2003 acquires Triangle Pharmaceuticals | ||
* Goes public in 1992 | ** 2006, FDA approves Atripla for HIV-victims | ||
* 1996 - first commercial product, Vistide, treats cytomegalovirus | ** 2006 acquires Corus Pharma, Inc. | ||
* 1999 - acquires NeXstar Pharmaceuticals | ** 2006 acquires Myogen, Inc. | ||
* 2003 acquires Triangle Pharmaceuticals | ** 2006 acquires Raylo Chemicals, a pharma producer - is Gilead Sciences trying to become a pharma company? | ||
* 2006, FDA approves Atripla for HIV-victims | *Other/Notes: | ||
* 2006 acquires Corus Pharma, Inc. | ** Gilead seems to have created an [http://www.gilead-grant.de/disclaimer.html HIV/AIDS Clinical Cooperation Grant] | ||
* 2006 acquires Myogen, Inc. | ** publishes the results of clinical trials | ||
* 2006 acquires Raylo Chemicals, a pharma producer - is Gilead Sciences trying to become a pharma company? | ** Collaboration with [http://today.ucsf.edu/stories/gilead-sciences-and-gladstone-to-collaborate-on-hiv-targets/ UCSF on HIV targets] | ||
** [http://www.gilead.com/access_developing_world Project to bring HIV/AIDS drugs to third-world] | |||
* Foundation for bringing [http://www.gilead.com/Gilead_Foundation health care to under-served communities] | |||
* Gilead seems to have created an | |||
* publishes the results of clinical trials | |||
* Collaboration with | |||
* Project to bring HIV/AIDS drugs to third-world | |||
* Foundation for bringing | |||
== | =ImClone Systems= | ||
==Who== | |||
* 1,100 employees (circa 2007) (Hoovers, "Imclone Systems Incorporated") | |||
==What== | |||
* focus on oncology | |||
* Erbitux for colorectal cancer (FDA, "Erbitux") | |||
==Where== | |||
* Headquartered in New york City | |||
==News== | |||
* founded 1984 (Imclone Systems, "Company Overview") | |||
* 1990's, shift in focus from infectious diseases to oncology | |||
* 2001, monoclonal antibody Erbitux fails to get FDA approval. Stocks fell sharply - resulted in insider trading controversy | |||
* 2003, following insider trading crises, general reluctance to invest in the company | |||
* 2006, Carl Icahn acquires majority of the stock, unseats most of board | |||
* 2008, acquired by Eli Lilly | |||
* 2009 ImClone purchase brings down Eli Lilly earnings | |||
==Commons-Based, Peer-Production, and Open Access News== | |||
* Grants for community development (ImClone Systems, "Imclone Grant Office") | |||
* Collaboration with Merck to produce therapeutic cancer vaccines | |||
=MedImmune= | |||
==Who== | |||
* ~3,000 employees (MedImmune, "Company Overview") | |||
* Wholly-owned subsidiary of AstraZeneca, a Swedish Pharma company | |||
==What== | |||
* Produces Synagis, which treats respiratory infections in infants | |||
* Also produces FluMist, a nasal spray influenza vaccine | |||
* Proprietary drug-development methods: Phage Display and Ribosome Display (MedImmune, "Drug Development") | |||
==Where== | |||
* Gaithersburg, Maryland | |||
==News== | |||
* 2007, Astra Zeneca acquires MedImmune (Pollack, Andrew, "Five Days; Biotech Deal") | |||
* 2007, Federal advisory panel endorses Flu Vaccine spray (Associated Press, "Panel Endorses Flu Vaccine In a Spray for Young Children") | |||
* 2008, rapid expansion of the company (Murret, Patricia, "Big Gaithersburg biotech gets a boost") | |||
==Commons-Based, Peer-Production, and Open Access News=== | |||
* Sponsors research abstract competition (MedImmune, "MedImmune Announces Winners of Third Annual Research Abstract Competition") | |||
* Establishes research fellowships for pediatric health (MedImmune, "MedImmune Grants Five New Fellowships to Help Expand Premature Infant Follow-Up Care Research") | |||
* Owns MedImmune Ventures, a VC firm to encourage research and investment in the field (MedImmune, " MedImmune Broadens Focus of Venture Capital Fund to Include New Therapeutic Areas") | |||
* Has research collaborations with the following organizations: Burnham Institute, Medarex, Inc., National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Micromet AG, Seattle Genetics, Inc., VasGene Therapeutics, Inc., and Xencor, Inc. (MedImmune, "R&D Collaborations") | |||
** Collaboration with Medarex, Inc. to develop drugs for treating autoimmune diseases | |||
** jointly developing treatment for B cell Tumors with Micromet AG | |||
** agreement with Seattle Genetics, Inc. to use it antibody-drug conjugate treatment | |||
* Developing treatment for cervical cancer with GlaxoSmith-Kline (MedImmune, "Strategic Alliances") | |||
=Navigation= | |||
[[IP Profile of Biggest for-profit companies in BGP]]<br> | |||
[[Biotechnology - Genomic and Proteomics]]<br> | |||
[[Main Page]] | [[Main Page]] |
Latest revision as of 17:46, 22 April 2010
Introduction
- UAEM Transparency Project
- BGP Table of Biggest For-Profit Companies
Abraxis BioScience
- Headquarters in Los Angeles
- 383 employees (LinkedIn "Abraxis BioSciences")
- nab technology platform (Abraxis BioSciences, "About Us")
- Abraxan - treats metastatic breast cancer (Abraxis BioSciences, "About Us")
- Protosphere - patented nanoparticle technology
- Focus on cancer and heart treatments
- 2007 splits into two separate companies - Abraxis BioScience and Abraxis Pharmaceutical Products (Abraxis BioSciences, "Abraxis BioScience Announces Plan to Separate Into Two Independent Public Companies")
- 2009, 4th quarter loss despite high sales
- 2009, spins off new company focusing on Biomarkers and Personalized medicine (Business Wire, "Abraxis BioScience Announces Plan")
- Others/Notes:
- List of publications (Abraxis BioSciences, "Publications")
- Partnership with UCLA's nanosystem's institute (Marcus, "UCLA’s California NanoSystems Institute Partners With Abraxis BioScience")
- Collaboration with National Comprehensive Cancer Network and AstraZeneca to conduct anti-cancer drug studies (National Comprehensive Cancer Network, "NCCN, Abraxis BioScience and AstraZeneca Announce Collaboration")
Amgen
- Headquarters: Thousand Oaks, CA
- 16,900 employees (2008 Corporate report)
- History of acquisition:
- 1994 - Synergen, Inc.
- 2000 - Kinetix Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
- 2002 - Immunex Corporation
- 2004 - Tularik, Inc.
- 2006 - Abgenix, Inc.
- 2006 - Avidia, Inc.
- 2007 - Ilypsa, Inc.
- 2007 - Alantos Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc.
- Subsidiaries:
- Amgen Australia Pty Ltd.;
- Amgen N.V.; Amgen Canada Inc.;
- Amgen Greater China Ltd.;
- Amgen GmbH (Germany);
- Amgen S.A. (France);
- Amgen S.p.A. (Italy);
- Amgen K.K. (Japan);
- Amgen B.V. (Netherlands);
- Amgen-Biofarmaceutica (Portugal);
- Amgen S.A. (Spain);
- Amgen (Europe) AG (Switzerland);
- Kirin-Amgen, Inc. (Switzerland);
- Amgen Limited (U.K.);
- Amgen Sales Corporation (West Indies).
- Unlike many biotech companies, has been consistently profitable. Net profit in 2006 was US$2.9 Billion
- History: **Managed to turn itself from a drug research company into a pharmaceutical company while maintaining steady sales - extremely rare in the industry.
- Founded in 1980. By 1986 was starting to turn a profit, but did so not through drug development but through research partnerships with established pharma firms
- 1987, develop erythropoietin (EPO), which stimulates red blood cell creation. Sold the marketing rights to Johnson&Johnson
- Epogen proves to hugely popular - over $250m in sales in 1991 alone
- Between 1992 and 1996, Amgen's R&D budget goes from $182 million to $663 million
- It has ten approved drugs for 15 conditions, 23 agents are being tested earlier in the approval pipeline as of 2009
- drugs include: Epogen, Aranesp, Enbrel, Kineret, Neulasta, Neupogen, Sensipar / Mimpara and Nplate
- As a side-result of this research, also publishes in academic journals
- Others/Notes:
- Amgen - marketing and R&D collaborations with (Powell pp. 72): ARRIS, Envirogen, Glycomex, Guilford, Interneuron, Regeneron, and Zynaxis. these companies develop the product that Amgen later produces and markets. Perhaps there are instances of commons-like sharing here. Further investigation needed
- Seems to be engaging in some instances of open-ended research with universities. e.g., collaboration with MIT's Whitehead institute
- Further instances of academic collaboration here
- The results of some scientific collaborations are being released into the commons
- It says its committed to sharing clinical testing results as soon as possible
Biogen Idec
- Headquarters: Kendall Scquare, Cambridge
- from Wikipedia: commercial affiliates in "Germany, France, Spain/Portugal, UK/Ireland, the Benelux, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, and Austria"
- Research centers in San Diego and Research Triangle Park, N.C.
- Treatments for Multiple Sclerosis, Crohn's disease, and a treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma which is co-marketed with Genentech
- Most revenue derived from Avonex, it's MS treatment
- 2003, Biogen and IDEC merge
- Others/Notes:
- Gives [1] educational grants to med schools
- Sponsors "Citi Biotech Day"
- Has US$100million venture capital fund to encourage Biotech research
- Cooperated with Genentech to research and produce lymphoma treatment
- Has the Biogen Idec Innovation Incubator (bi3), and has a history of buying start-ups ventures
- Provides Student labs for high school students in Cambridge and San Diego
Celgene
- Headquarters: Summit, New Jersey
- ~1,300 employees (circa 2007)
- Thalomid, treats erythema nodosum leprosum ("ENL")
- Revlimid, for multiple myeloma
- Receives royalties from Novartis for production of Ritalin
- Also offers service: LifeBankUSA, a placental and cord bank holding (Celgene, "Products and Services")
- 1986, spun off from Celanese Corporation
- 1998, receives approval for Thalomid
- 2000, reaches licensing agreement with Novartis for producing Ritalin
- 2002, acquires Anthrogenesis Corporation
- 2005, approval for Revlimid (Celgene, "History")
- 2009, Celgene stocks are in decline (Seeking Alpha, "Celgene Breaking New Lows, But Hopefully Not Much Lower")
- 2009, reporting lower sales, apparently because of overall economic decline
- Others/Notes:
- Collaboration with Cornell Medical School (Weill Cornell Medical College, "Celgene Corporation and Weill Cornell Initiate Research Program")
- Research collaboration with Pharmacopeia (All Business, "Pharmacopeia achieves research milestone")
- Multi-year research collaboration with Galapagos (Laboratory Talk, "Celgene and Galapagos in target collaboration")
- research collaboration with AxCell BioSciences (Access My Library "AxCell Biosciences establishes research collaboration with Celgene Corp.")
Cephalon
- Headquarters: Frazer, PA
- 3,000 employees
- Leading product - Provigil, to treat sleep disorder
- Focus on Neurodegenerative diseases
- has acquired the following firms: CIMA Labs, Anesta, and Laboratoire Lafon
- Founded in 1987, CEO Frank Baldino, Jr., Ph.D
- Failure of neurodegenerative treatment in 1992 - discovered that the drug kept mice awake, turned it into Provigil in 1999 (Cephalon, "Our Story")
- 2008, sales of US$1.943 billion
- 2008 - Treanda - treatment for non-hodgkin's lymphoma - approved and launched
- Stock has posted double-digit earnings this year (Bennett "It's Wake-Up Time for a Drug Maker's Shares")
- 2009 - seeks approval for Nuvigil to treat Jet Lag (Kennedy, "Cephalon To Apply For FDA Approval For Nuvigil For Jet Lag")
- 2009 - studies suggest Nuvigil could also be used to treat Bipolar Depression (Medical News Today, "Cephalon Announces Positive Results From A Phase Two Study Of NUVIGIL In Bipolar Depression")
- 2009 - (unsubstantiated) gossip that Eli Lilly might consider purchasing Cephalon (Feuerstein, "What's on Lilly's Prescription Pad?") Further rumors of take-over: (Steven, "2 Potential Pharma M&A Targets: Cephalon and Genzyme")
- 2009 - bid to take over Australian biotech firm. Interest in its treatments for inflammatory diseases and cancer (Domain-B, "Cephalon opens bid for Aussie bio-technology firm Arana")
- Others/Notes:
- Interesting: Three areas for establishing collaborative studies (Cephalon, "Research Partnerships"):
- Pre-clinical studies - has simple online form for obtaining Cephalon products for pre-clinical studies. Response within a month.
- Cephalon-sponsored studies - can apply to work as an investigator in a Cephalon study
- Investigator Sponsored Studies (ISS) - investigator herself designs the trial, gets the regulatory approval, interprets and communicates the results. It appears that you just submit a proposal, and if approved, Cephalon will fund the study (Cephalon, "Going Further in Research")
- Foster business collaborations(Cephalon, "Business Collaboration")
- Negative test results are being used to further general research on Parkinson's disease (Cephalon, "Our Science")
- Corporate giving for health advocacy, science education, and community building in locations where Cephalon has offices (Cephalon, "Corporate Giving")
- 2006 - collaboration with Ambit Biosciences to research kinase inhibitors (B-Net, "Ambit Biosciences Announces Discovery and Development Collaboration with Cephalon, Inc. Focused on Kinase Inhibitors")
- Alzheimer's disease research collaboration with Scherring-Plough
- Collaboration with Abbott Laboratories to produce and develop Gabitril, an anti-epilepsy drug (PR Newswire, "Abbott Laboratories and Cephalon Sign Collaboration Agreement for Gabitril(R) (Tiagabine Hydrochloride) in the United States")
- Interesting: Three areas for establishing collaborative studies (Cephalon, "Research Partnerships"):
Celera
Genentech
- Headquarters: South San Francisco
- 11,000 employees ("Genentech," Wikipedia)
- Owned by Swiss pharma company Hoffman - La Roche (Hoffman-La Rouche)
- synthetic human insulin was their first famous product, many others produced using the Boyer-Cohen rDNA process
- Papers by company employees
- Others/Notes:
- Collaborated with Apple to create Open Source search engine for protein and DNA sequences called Apple/Genentech BLAST
- Hoffman-La Rouche is engaging in academic collaboration to study the safety of InnoMed PredTox ("Hoffman-La Rouche," Wikipedia)
- In general, this seems to be a company that encourages its scientists to publish
- examples of papers
- Video of Genentech's Joe McCracken explaining incentives to publish
- It has four-year post-doctoral program and also offers Clinical Research Fellowships
- Supplies reagents for other research organizations' work
- Worked with the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Retina Specialists to develop guidelines and answer questions about Avastin
- Has a separate board to advise the company on issues of scientific research
- Company gives researchers 20% free time to work on projects of their own
- VP for business development says the organization survives through science, not marketing.
- Collaboration with UC San Diego Scientists
- Funds undergraduate research programs through the Genentech Foundation
- Provids infrastructure support for UCSF
- Collaboration with Rockefeller University to look at therapeutic antibody potency
Genzyme
- Headquarter Cambridge
- 2007, US$2.89B operating income, $3.81B revenue ("Genzyme," Wikipedia)
- Cerezyme (treats Gaucher's disease) accounts for 30% of company's revenue
- Renagel, for dialysis patients
- Fabrazyme, for Fabry's disease
- Other/Notes:
- Develops community support groups for victims of the diseases it treats, such as Fabry Community and other at Genzyme Disease Education/Research/Support Sites
- Has established for victims of Gaucher's disease
- All company-sponsored clinical trials registered [www.clinicaltrials.gov Clinical Trials] and at Genzyme Clinical Research
- Partial catalog of researchers' publications
- Give grants for science education and health-services in local communities
- Building outreach into China. Will establish research center there by 2010.
Gilead Sciences
- Headquarters: Foster City, California
- 3,400 hundred employees as of 2009
- Growth based in large part on acquisition of other companies
- Products for HIV/AIDS, respiratory and heart conditions, and liver disease
- Over a dozen drugs in the development pipeline, Phase I or later
- Acquisition history:
- 1990 reaches agreement with Glaxo to research and develop "antisense" -- genetic code blockers
- Goes public in 1992
- 1996 - first commercial product, Vistide, treats cytomegalovirus
- 1999 - acquires NeXstar Pharmaceuticals
- 2003 acquires Triangle Pharmaceuticals
- 2006, FDA approves Atripla for HIV-victims
- 2006 acquires Corus Pharma, Inc.
- 2006 acquires Myogen, Inc.
- 2006 acquires Raylo Chemicals, a pharma producer - is Gilead Sciences trying to become a pharma company?
- Other/Notes:
- Gilead seems to have created an HIV/AIDS Clinical Cooperation Grant
- publishes the results of clinical trials
- Collaboration with UCSF on HIV targets
- Project to bring HIV/AIDS drugs to third-world
- Foundation for bringing health care to under-served communities
ImClone Systems
Who
- 1,100 employees (circa 2007) (Hoovers, "Imclone Systems Incorporated")
What
- focus on oncology
- Erbitux for colorectal cancer (FDA, "Erbitux")
Where
- Headquartered in New york City
News
- founded 1984 (Imclone Systems, "Company Overview")
- 1990's, shift in focus from infectious diseases to oncology
- 2001, monoclonal antibody Erbitux fails to get FDA approval. Stocks fell sharply - resulted in insider trading controversy
- 2003, following insider trading crises, general reluctance to invest in the company
- 2006, Carl Icahn acquires majority of the stock, unseats most of board
- 2008, acquired by Eli Lilly
- 2009 ImClone purchase brings down Eli Lilly earnings
Commons-Based, Peer-Production, and Open Access News
- Grants for community development (ImClone Systems, "Imclone Grant Office")
- Collaboration with Merck to produce therapeutic cancer vaccines
MedImmune
Who
- ~3,000 employees (MedImmune, "Company Overview")
- Wholly-owned subsidiary of AstraZeneca, a Swedish Pharma company
What
- Produces Synagis, which treats respiratory infections in infants
- Also produces FluMist, a nasal spray influenza vaccine
- Proprietary drug-development methods: Phage Display and Ribosome Display (MedImmune, "Drug Development")
Where
- Gaithersburg, Maryland
News
- 2007, Astra Zeneca acquires MedImmune (Pollack, Andrew, "Five Days; Biotech Deal")
- 2007, Federal advisory panel endorses Flu Vaccine spray (Associated Press, "Panel Endorses Flu Vaccine In a Spray for Young Children")
- 2008, rapid expansion of the company (Murret, Patricia, "Big Gaithersburg biotech gets a boost")
Commons-Based, Peer-Production, and Open Access News=
- Sponsors research abstract competition (MedImmune, "MedImmune Announces Winners of Third Annual Research Abstract Competition")
- Establishes research fellowships for pediatric health (MedImmune, "MedImmune Grants Five New Fellowships to Help Expand Premature Infant Follow-Up Care Research")
- Owns MedImmune Ventures, a VC firm to encourage research and investment in the field (MedImmune, " MedImmune Broadens Focus of Venture Capital Fund to Include New Therapeutic Areas")
- Has research collaborations with the following organizations: Burnham Institute, Medarex, Inc., National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Micromet AG, Seattle Genetics, Inc., VasGene Therapeutics, Inc., and Xencor, Inc. (MedImmune, "R&D Collaborations")
- Collaboration with Medarex, Inc. to develop drugs for treating autoimmune diseases
- jointly developing treatment for B cell Tumors with Micromet AG
- agreement with Seattle Genetics, Inc. to use it antibody-drug conjugate treatment
- Developing treatment for cervical cancer with GlaxoSmith-Kline (MedImmune, "Strategic Alliances")
IP Profile of Biggest for-profit companies in BGP
Biotechnology - Genomic and Proteomics
Main Page