Publications

11 Oct 2009
Conference Presentation

The impact of institutional actors as attention structures on entrepreneurial activity in the U.S. biodiesel industry

By: Shon R. Hiatt

Keywords: Entrepreneurship; Biotechnology Industry; Biotechnology Industry; United States

November 2009
Case

The Explosion of Genetic Testing: Opportunities and Challenges

By: Richard G. Hamermesh, Mara G. Aspinall and Rachel Gordon

This case study invites the reader to consider genetic testing in several different lights. First, can the business of genetic testing be considered a disruptive innovation to the current drug therapy model as defined by Harvard Business School Professor Clay... View Details

Keywords: Genetics; Health Care and Treatment; Health Testing and Trials; Disruptive Innovation; Business Model; Biotechnology Industry; Biotechnology Industry

October 2009 (Revised July 2013)
Case

Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Access Program

By: V. Kasturi Rangan and Katharine Lee

Gilead Sciences, the U.S. leader in HIV/AIDS medicines, with global sales of $5.4 billion in 2009, had undertaken several innovative actions to make its anti-viral products available to over 100 low- and middle-income countries. Having reached nearly 680,000 patients... View Details

Keywords: Health Care and Treatment; Emerging Markets; Product; Sales; Competitive Strategy; Biotechnology Industry; Biotechnology Industry

June 2008
Case

Gordon Williams: Clinical Research at Brigham and Women's Hospital

By: H. Kent Bowen and Courtney Purrington

Clinical research is a critical element of biomedical research and development. This case describes the challenges of clinical research, and its role in bringing breakthroughs to patients. Dr. Williams leads through his own research and special programs to train... View Details

Keywords: Training; Health Care and Treatment; Success; Programs; Research and Development; Biotechnology Industry; Biotechnology Industry

Find at Harvard

June 2003 (Revised October 2004)
Case

Novartis: The Challenge of Success (D)

By: Sandra J. Sucher and Stacy McManus

Supplements the (A) and (B) cases. View Details

Keywords: Biotechnology Industry; Biotechnology Industry

07 Feb 2005
Research & Ideas

How “Career Imprinting” Shapes Leaders

Abbott's career imprint could be called a "functional career imprint." Baxter generated a disproportionate number of leaders in the biotechnology industry. During the early 1980s, when the biotech industry was just heating up... View Details

Keywords: by Mallory Stark

17 Nov 2003
Research & Ideas

The Business of Babies

"The law says yes and no." Until there is more clarity, the market cannot thrive. "The best technology in the world won't help you if it's illegal," Spar said. "If advances in biotechnology are to reach their full... View Details

Keywords: by Julia Hanna; Health

16 Jun 2003
Research & Ideas

Surveying the VC Landscape

public within five to seven years of its initial financing, will be able to pursue research that will not have a payoff for fifteen, twenty, or even more years in the future. (But it's not impossible—after all, venture capital has played a key role in the financing of... View Details

Keywords: by Ann Cullen; Financial Services

March 2023
Case

Moderna

By: Marco Iansiti, Karim R. Lakhani, Hannah Mayer, Kerry Herman, Allison J. Wigen and Dave Habeeb

This multimedia case follows the story of Moderna and its entry into vaccine development in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. In summer 2020, Stephane Bancel, CEO of biotech firm Moderna, faces several challenges as his company races to develop a vaccine for COVID-19.... View Details

Keywords: Health Pandemics; Research and Development; Digital Transformation; Health Testing and Trials; Biotechnology Industry; Biotechnology Industry

February 1986 (Revised November 1992)
Case

Novo Industri A/S--1981

By: W. Carl Kester and Glynn Ferguson

This small but rapidly growing Danish biochemical company must choose among several financing opportunities that include a convertible Eurobond, a rights offering in Denmark and an issue of new common shares in the United States. The case involves a broad range of... View Details

Keywords: Capital Markets; Cost of Capital; Bonds; Stock Shares; Financing and Loans; Globalization; Biotechnology Industry; Biotechnology Industry; Denmark; United States

March 2022
Teaching Note

Digital Manufacturing at Amgen

By: Shane Greenstein, Kyle R. Myers and Sarah Mehta

This teaching note provides guidance for instructors teaching “Digital Manufacturing at Amgen,” case no. 621-008. View Details

November 2020
Supplement

Valuing Celgene's CVR

By: Benjamin C. Esty and Daniel Fisher

When Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) acquired Celgene Corporation in November 2019, Celgene shareholders received cash, BMS stock, and a contingent value right (CVRs) that would pay $9 if the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved three of Celgene’s late stage... View Details

Keywords: Mergers and Acquisitions; Value; Valuation; Judgments; Decision Making; Cash Flow; Financial Instruments; Cognition and Thinking; Biotechnology Industry; Biotechnology Industry; United States

October 2019 (Revised April 2020)
Background Note

Note on Funding Deep Tech Startups

By: Karim Lakhani, Peter Barrett and Noubar Afeyan

This Background Note provides essential information on funding deep technologies—those technologies that were inherently capital intensive, time consuming, risky, and potentially disruptive. Both dilutive and non-dilutive sources of investment are highlighted, along... View Details

September 2019
Case

Celgene: Business Development and Distributed Research

By: Peter Barrett and Kareem Reda

This case looks at the deal-making process between Celgene, a large publicly traded pharmaceutical company, and Agios, an early-stage biotech company. The framework of a potential deal is explored and the potential road-blocks to Agios’ profitability are discussed. ... View Details

Keywords: Negotiation Deal; Alliances; Collaborative Innovation and Invention; Research; Biotechnology Industry; Biotechnology Industry

June 2014
Supplement

Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (B)

By: Amy C. Edmondson, Bethany Gerstein and Melissa Valentine

In 2006, the leadership team at Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc. had to decide whether to keep its R&D organization in functional departments or restructure it into interdisciplinary teams. This case follows the outcomes of this decision from 2006 to mid-2014, and... View Details

Keywords: Organizational Design; Groups and Teams; Collaborative Innovation and Invention; Research and Development; Biotechnology Industry; Biotechnology Industry

April 2010
Teaching Note

The DiagnoFirst Opportunity (TN)

By: Robert C. Pozen

Teaching Note for [309112]. View Details

Keywords: Decisions; Investment; Risk and Uncertainty; Patents; Cash Flow; Venture Capital; Negotiation Deal; Health Care and Treatment; Opportunities; Law; Biotechnology Industry; Biotechnology Industry; United States; Europe

February 2010 (Revised April 2010)
Case

Organization and Strategy at Millennium (A)

By: Julie M. Wulf and Scott Waggoner

This case examines Millennium's strategic and organizational responses to the rapid evolution of the biopharmaceutical industry. In the early 2000s, as Millennium's competitive advantage in early-stage research slipped away and its losses mounted, founder and CEO Mark... View Details

Keywords: Transformation; Leading Change; Management Succession; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Competitive Strategy; Competitive Advantage; Biotechnology Industry; Biotechnology Industry

January 2009
Teaching Note

Biocon: Launching a New Cancer Drug in India (TN)

By: Sunil Gupta and Das Narayandas

Teaching Note for [508026]. View Details

Keywords: Product Launch; Market Timing; Price; Distribution Channels; Marketing Strategy; Health Care and Treatment; Biotechnology Industry; Biotechnology Industry; India

August 2007 (Revised November 2008)
Case

Biocon: Launching a New Cancer Drug in India

By: Sunil Gupta and Das Narayandas

Kiran Majumdar-Shaw, the CEO of Biocon has to make product launch timing, pricing, channel, and communications mix decisions relating to the launch of BioMAb, a new cancer drug in India. View Details

Keywords: Price; Health Care and Treatment; Marketing Strategy; Product Launch; Planning; Biotechnology Industry; Biotechnology Industry; India