Publications

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

01 Nov 2024
In Practice

Layoffs Surging in a Strong Economy? Advice for Navigating Uncertain Times

decision about entrepreneurship Starting your own company after a layoff is a significant decision. While it may seem like an opportune time, research suggests there are some important considerations. “Entrepreneurs coming from high-tech sectors such as View Details

Keywords: by Rachel Layne; Technology; Information Technology

02 Aug 2004
Research & Ideas

Health Care Research and Prospects

is a lot other work at the school going on around these issues by many other faculty. For instance, Dave Scharfstein is doing great work on how capital market forces influence the development strategies of biotechnology companies. David... View Details

Keywords: by Wendy Guild Swearingen; Health

01 Mar 2019
News

The Blue-Green Revolution

engineering algae to get fat without going comatose. As a result, “You can take the brakes off oil formation without putting the brakes on growth,” says SGI’s CEO, Oliver Fetzer. In a study published in Nature Biotechnology in 2017, SGI... View Details

Keywords: Alexander Gelfand; illustration by Eric Nyquist

10 Aug 2020
Research & Ideas

COVID's Surprising Toll on Careers of Women Scientists

COVID-19 is claiming an unexpected career toll among scientific researchers, and particularly on women, new research shows. If you are female, have young children, or work in a lab, you are more likely to feel the career-crunching effects dealt by the pandemic,... View Details

Keywords: by Rachel Layne; Biotechnology; Biotechnology; Biotechnology

28 Feb 2019
Cold Call Podcast

Pursuing Precision Medicine at Intermountain Healthcare

Keywords: Re: Richard G. Hamermesh; Biotechnology; Biotechnology; Biotechnology

February 2024 (Revised March 2025)
Case

Moving Science: The Rowland Institute at Harvard

By: Maria P. Roche

Set in 2022, this case describes the considerations involved in organizing the physical relocation of the Rowland Institute at Harvard (RIH), a research institute established in 1980 by Edwin H. Land, the founder of the Polaroid Corporation, for the advancement of... View Details

Keywords: Optics; Engineering; Higher Education; Strategy; Science; Buildings and Facilities; Research and Development; Biotechnology Industry; Biotechnology Industry

January 2014 (Revised June 2014)
Supplement

23andMe: Genetic Testing for Consumers (B)

By: John A. Quelch and Margaret L. Rodriguez

Following the FDA's letter in November 2013, which ordered 23andMe to cease sales of its DNA test kits, observers wondered how co-founder and CEO, Anne Wojcicki, would guide the company in the presence of uncertainty. View Details

Keywords: Risk and Uncertainty; Genetics; Crisis Management; Health Care and Treatment; Product Development; Business and Government Relations; Biotechnology Industry; Biotechnology Industry; United States

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