Publications
Publications
- September 2024
- HBS Case Collection
Myeloma Investment Fund
By: Kyle Myers and Scott Sawaya
Abstract
This case explores a critical decision facing the Myeloma Investment Fund (MIF) as it evaluates two investment opportunities aimed at accelerating a cure for multiple myeloma.
The MIF, a venture philanthropy fund, must choose between two distinct paths. One option is a high-risk academic startup that is developing a new, early-stage technology. This startup’s innovation could lead to breakthroughs in treating myeloma, but it is far from clinical trials and carries significant uncertainty. The other option is an established company with a promising drug already in Phase II trials, offering the potential for quicker patient impact and a lower risk profile.
The case highlights several key trade-offs for the MIF: the potential for groundbreaking innovation versus more immediate patient outcomes, higher risk versus greater certainty, and the challenge of balancing financial returns with the fund’s mission. MIF must weigh the long-term potential of supporting early-stage science against the possibility of providing patients with a treatment that could make a difference sooner.
The MIF, a venture philanthropy fund, must choose between two distinct paths. One option is a high-risk academic startup that is developing a new, early-stage technology. This startup’s innovation could lead to breakthroughs in treating myeloma, but it is far from clinical trials and carries significant uncertainty. The other option is an established company with a promising drug already in Phase II trials, offering the potential for quicker patient impact and a lower risk profile.
The case highlights several key trade-offs for the MIF: the potential for groundbreaking innovation versus more immediate patient outcomes, higher risk versus greater certainty, and the challenge of balancing financial returns with the fund’s mission. MIF must weigh the long-term potential of supporting early-stage science against the possibility of providing patients with a treatment that could make a difference sooner.
Keywords
Venture Philanthropy; Biomedical Research; Investing For Impact; Innovation ＆ Entrepreneurship; Venture Capital; Science-Based Business; Philanthropy and Charitable Giving; Decision Making; Health Care and Treatment; Biotechnology Industry; Pharmaceutical Industry
Citation
Myers, Kyle, and Scott Sawaya. "Myeloma Investment Fund." Harvard Business School Case 625-047, September 2024.