Where Does the Future Lie for Systemic Delivery of Drugs by Inhalation?

One of the highlights this morning at DDP 2009 was the panel moderated by Martin E. Judge, PhD, Sourcing Director of Diabetes Research Unit at Novo Nordisk A/S which featuring Alfred E. Mann, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Mannkind Corporation, Igor Gonda the President & Chief Executive Officer of Aradigm Corporation and John Patton the Chief Research Fellow of Nektar titled "Where Does the Future Lie for Systemic Delivery of Drugs by Inhalation? ".

The panelists discussed the value and benefit of inhalable insulin. John Patton discussed where he felt Exubera. had stumbled while Al Mann discussed the uniqueness of Mannkind's inhalable insulin currently in trials. In addition, they discussed how pricing is affecting reimbursement and risk and offered thoughts on how companies need to communicate and measure the benefit ratio.

Dr. Judge asked the panelists if inhalable insulin can and will demonstrate improved efficacy and safety. They all agreed that this was the big challenge. While that was one of the causes of the Exubera failure, Al Mann contends his product will meet this challenge.

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Riding out the "Consolidation Wave" at DDP

Almost every conversation I've had at DDP at some point turns to contraction in the industry and how smaller drug delivery and biotech companies will weather the current economic downturn. Then today WSJ reports that Pfizer is talking to Wyeth about a purchase. A number of experts here have indicated that while the current credit crisis will make deals harder this will not stop the flurry of activity we are likely to see over the next few months as companies whose funding has dried up present numerous opportunities for big pharma. It seems this is a great time to be at the deal making event of the year.

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Open Business Models - How to Thrive in the New Innovation Landscape

Innovation and the economy are two recurring themes at DDP 2009. During his keynote Dr. Henry Chesbrough, Executive Director of the Center for Open Innovation at Haas School of Business at U C Berkeley discussed how Ryan Air, Apple and Proctor & Gamble have successfully embraced open innovation by thinking long term and reevaluating internal patent and licensing policies.

He told a captive audience of over 400 Drug Delivery executives what they need to do to embrace open innovation to help their organization react to the changing R&D pipeline paradigm facing the industry.

Here is one of his slides that outlines open innovation in life sciences.


ok now back to the show....more to come.

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Drug Delivery Partnerships Live from the Red Rock

It is with great pleasure that we launch IIR's Future of BioPharma blog live from the 13th Annual Drug Delivery Partnerships event at the Red Rock Resort and Spa in Las Vegas, NV.

The Executive Director, Tricia Carle opened DDP this morning and introduced the conference co-chair Dr. Peter Kramer, Executive Director of External Science & Technology, Strategic Transactions Group at Bristol Myers Squibb who remarked that we are at the cross roads of change and innovation in the Biopharmaceutical drug delivery industry. He then introduced Debra Bingham a partner at Valeo Partners who kicked us off with a Letterman style Top 10 list of the 2008 Events that will Impact in Drug Delivery in 2009.

10. Branded DD products go generic
9. Nektar sells inhalation business to Novartis for $115 million in October 2008
8. The dismantling of Alza - Acquired for $12 billion in 2001
7. Pfizer pulls Exubera from the market in 10/07 and Novo stops development
6. Pfizer reports lung cancer in study and Nektar discontinues Exubera partnering
5. 2008 Roche acquires Mirus for RNAi delivery for $125 million
4. Jan 27, 2006 inhaled insulin approved
3. Large restructuring of big pharma 2006- Present creating an entrepreneurial spirit
2. Mandate for healthcare policy change in U.S.
1. The current financial crisis

So what will the impact of these events be?

1. Regulatory pressures and changes (regulatory, pricing, generics, doctor relationship controls)
2. Increased financial pressure on CEOs and boards of emerging companies
3. Increased M& A activity
4. Pay and regulatory pressure to prove the benefit of rug delivery - What is the value proposition of our technology not just in extending patents but in increasing value for the end user and convincing third party payers that your product is worth reimbursing
5. Continued opportunity to enable delivery of difficult therapeutics

Stay tuned for more Drug Delivery updates live from the Red Rock! And be sure and sign up for our DDP LinkedIn group to continue networking with industry peers.

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