Publications

September 2019
Case

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: Shaping the Vaccine Manufacturing Ecosystem

By: Willy C. Shih

Vaccines for children has been a long-standing focus for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and its critical role in public health made its production an important economic and political issue. This case describes the Foundation's investment in a breakthrough vaccine... View Details

Keywords: Vaccine; Production; Supply Chain; Product; Pharmaceutical Industry; Pharmaceutical Industry; Pharmaceutical Industry; Belgium

December 1999
Case

Agrochemicals at Ciba-Geigy AG (A)

By: Michael L. Tushman, Wendy Smith and Daniel Radov

After spending five years to develop a revolutionary product, the director of Ciba-Geigy's fungicide research department is handed an unfavorable market study. The case details the R&D process for the new product, including information on corporate partnerships,... View Details

Keywords: Agribusiness; Plant-Based Agribusiness; Research and Development; Innovation and Invention; Innovation Strategy; Product Launch; Marketing Channels; Change Management; Product Development; Business Processes; Organizational Structure; Corporate Accountability; Pharmaceutical Industry; Pharmaceutical Industry

Find at Harvard

March 2010 (Revised May 2012)
Case

Myelin Repair Foundation: Accelerating Drug Discovery Through Collaboration

By: Karim R. Lakhani and Paul R. Carlile

This case presents the Myelin Repair Foundation's accelerated research collaboration model for drug discovery. It highlights the challenges of building a multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional research collaboration that is attempting to create a treatment for... View Details

Keywords: Research and Development; Intellectual Property; Risk and Uncertainty; Strategic Planning; Collaborative Innovation and Invention; Health Disorders; Pharmaceutical Industry; Pharmaceutical Industry; Pharmaceutical Industry

05 Jan 2011
Op-Ed

Funding Unpredictability Around Stem-Cell Research Inflicts Heavy Cost on Scientific Progress

In light of the latest developments of the on-again, off-again, on-again government funding of human embryonic stem-cell research, it is time to consider the devastating implications of this chaotic funding environment. And to do that, one needs to understand how a... View Details

Keywords: by William Sahlman; Pharmaceutical; Pharmaceutical; Pharmaceutical

01 Jun 2009
Lessons from the Classroom

The Challenges of Investing in Science-Based Innovation

In economic downtimes, businesses are apt to cut R&D projects that don't promise a speedy return on investment. But take a cue from smart science-based businesses, which view the recession as an opportunity to stoke up research and innovation for long-term... View Details

Keywords: by Julia Hanna; Pharmaceutical; Pharmaceutical; Pharmaceutical

01 Dec 2003
News

The Next Big Thing

life-sciences center of the world, by virtue of its unsurpassed “cluster” of world-renowned universities and teaching hospitals; medical-device, biotech, and pharmaceutical companies; financial firms; and skilled workers. “The leadership... View Details

Keywords: life sciences; Scientific Research and Development Services

February 2001
Teaching Note

CVS: The Web Strategy TN

By: John A. Deighton

Teaching Note for (9-500-008). View Details

Keywords: Pharmaceutical Industry; Pharmaceutical Industry

11 Aug 2014
News

The First Five Years: Melissa Fensterstock (MBA 2012)

where we don't speak about business matters—going on a jog together, date night, or work-free vacation. A break is healthy for everyone to recharge, regroup, and reflect." How do you use what you learned at HBS at IMMUNE Pharmaceuticals... View Details

09 Feb 2016
First Look

February 9, 2016

challenges as it seeks to continue its growth. Purchase this case: https://cb.hbsp.harvard.edu/cbmp/product/816013-PDF-ENG Harvard Business School Case 316-010 The Allergan Board Under Fire (A) In 2014, the Allergan Inc. board of directors received a surprise takeover... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

26 Sep 2006
First Look

First Look: September 26, 2006

patient needs and working backwards to develop profitable solutions rather than starting with the government, pharmaceutical or healthcare industry or NGO. The examination is undertaken on two levels, a macro level that focuses on... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

01 Dec 2013
News

Your Own Medicine

help build new muscle—had been one of several potential treatments the Secklers chased to no avail, often stuck following promising science to dead ends. That changed three years ago, when former pharmaceutical executive Gene Williams... View Details

Keywords: Morrell, Daniel; biomedicine; biopharmaceutical company; Ambulatory Health Care Services; Health, Social Assistance

23 Jul 2001
Research & Ideas

How Relationships are Building Biotech

on biotech companies in terms of securing resources. And if the top executives had a career background at a pharmaceutical and/or healthcare company—the companies considered "downstream" to biotech—so much the better. The IPO is... View Details

Keywords: by Martha Lagace & Mallory Stark

01 Apr 1999
News

Q & A: Confronting New Technologies: When Doing Right Is Wrong

industries or certain segments of the pharmaceutical business. But in many other industries - financial services, education, and health care, for instance - this analytical model is proving extremely helpful in understanding what is... View Details

February 1985 (Revised July 1993)
Case

Puritan Drug Co.

David Thomas takes his first sales management assignment and is faced with a sales rep revolt because of a possible territory reorganization. In addition, his sales division is performing well below the national average. Rewritten version of a case by R.Z. Sorenson. View Details

Keywords: Salesforce Management; Conflict and Resolution; Pharmaceutical Industry; Pharmaceutical Industry; Pharmaceutical Industry