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PARTNERING
MedinCell S.A. (France) / MedinCell Corp. (San Diego) & Undisclosed Mexican generics company:
We initiated and facilitated the signing of a formulation study agreement between our client, MedinCell, a sustained-release subcutaneous drug-delivery company, and a mid-tier Mexican generics company for a proprietary peptide therapeutic about to go off-patent. From our first email to the Mexican partner to signing of the deal took only 4 months. Payment was received 1 month later. The CEO of MedinCell considers this collaboration to be one of the top-3 strategic initiatives of the entire company.
Avid Bioservices / Undisclosed Customer:
Retained by Avid Bioservices in Tustin, Calif., a contract cGMP producer of therapeutic antibodies and proteins, for worldwide business development. Initiated and facilitated the signing of a multi-million dollar contract for production of at least two Rx Abs for a publicly-traded Israel company -- the largest contract ever booked by Avid at the time.
Biosite Inc. / Multiple Undisclosed Partners:
As a result of repeatedly initiating and facilitating worthwhile biomarker in-licensing transactions, continuously retained for 9 (nine) years by Biosite Inc. in San Diego (now part of Inverness Medical Innovations; IMA on NYSE). Initiated and assisted with the in-licensing of dozens of novel biomarkers (for new point-of-care Dx tests) from biotech companies and universities in Europe, North America and Japan, including the following disclosed partners: Lexicon Genetics, Aurelium Biopharma and Five Prime Therapeutics.
Chiome Bioscience / China Novartis:
Initiated and facilitated the signing of a 2-year, multi-target antibody-generation contract between our client, Chiome Bioscience (Tokyo), and China Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research Co., Ltd., in Shanghai, China. Two months later in November 2009, Novartis HQs announced plans to invest US$ 1 billion to expand their Shanghai research operations, thus ensuring the future growth of this China business for our client.
Chiome Bioscience / Pfizer Animal Health:
Initiated and facilitated the signing of a multi-target antibody-generation contract between our client, Chiome Bioscience (Tokyo), and Pfizer Animal Health in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
CombiChem / Teijin / Sumitomo Pharmaceutical Co.:
Retained by CombiChem Inc. in La Jolla, Calif., one of the world's first combinatorial chemistry companies, to jump-start business development in Japan. Within 6 weeks arranged multiple meetings for an upcoming trip to Japan. These interactions later led directly to multiple deals in the range of US$ 10 - 15 million with Teijin Ltd. (two) and Sumitomo Pharmaceutical Co. (one). All three agreements ran their full terms and all monies were paid to CombiChem. The Japanese companies later personally thanked me for these successful collaborations.
Kaken Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.:
Retained 1/2-time for 5 years to assist with deal-sourcing and due diligence by the New York office of Kaken Pharmaceutical Co., a mid-tier Japanese pharma company. Also successfully completed various 2- and 3-year engagements, or multiple engagements, for clients such as Takeda Chemical, Novalon/KaroBio, Structural Bioinformatics Inc. (SBI), Avid Bioservices and Asahi Glass Co.
MediLite Diagnostika / Boehringer Mannheim / Toyama Chemical:
Initiated, facilitated and assisted with the negotiations for two significant R&D collaborations with Boehringer Mannheim and Toyama Chemical for our client, MediLite, for the development of novel chemiluminescent assays and reagents.
Molecular Research Institute (MRI) / Kaken Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.:
While working for both clients we introduced the two together to discuss initiating a small-molecule structure-based drug-design (SBDD) collaboration for an undisclosed target. Although we had to recuse ourselves from the negotiations to avoid conflict of interest, a multi-million-dollar R&D collaboration resulted (funded by Kaken) that continued successfully for 3 years and met its technical goals.
Structural Bioinformatics / Yamanouchi [now Astellas] / Kirin:
Initiated and actively facilitated structure-based drug design agreements between Structural Bioinformatics Inc. (SBI) in San Diego and Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical Co. (now Astellas) and Kirin Brewery (now Kyowa-Hakko Kirin). Total deal value was in the range of US$ 12 - 20 million each.
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CORPORATE STRATEGY / MARKET RESEARCH
Technology Valuation & Partnering Strategy --
Undisclosed Japanese Client:
We recently completed a detailed valuation opinion and partnering strategy for a therapeutic mAb client with multiple proprietary cell-surface cancer targets. Over 300 past deals in the cancer space (secondary data) were analyzed to find valuation & partnering comparables, but most of the report was based on primary market-research data gathered by actually and directly contacting 60 (sixty) BIG Pharma & BIG Biotech companies worldwide with a non-confidential and anonymous summary of the partnering opportunity. Our client received copies on all communications and therefore saw first-hand the undoctored feedback from 25 - 30 potential international partners. To our extensive knowledge, no other consulting company in the world operates in such a transparent manner with clients and directly and fully documents their primary market research work.
Strategic Advisory / Strategic Planning --
Maxygen:
Retained by Maxygen to advise C-level management on an entry strategy and 5-year budget for applying their molecular evolution/optimization technology to entering the Rx Ab (therapeutic antibody) space. After a frank and realistic 1/2-day presentation on the risks, rewards and costs involved, Maxygen's CEO & CSO decided NOT to move forward -- probably making the right decision based on our realistic portrayal of the market at the time.
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INVESTMENT ADVISORY
Venture Capital Advisory & Due Diligence --
Takeda Research Investment (Takeda Chemical):
Retained by Takeda Chemical's venture capital subsidiary in Palo Alto, Calif., to recommend 8-10 pre-"B"-round private therapeutic-antibody (Rx Abs) companies anywhere worldwide as possible venture investments. We contacted and evaluated over 120 companies worldwide, recommending nine. Within 6 months of completing the assignment, at least 4 of the recommended companies were acquired at favorable valuations that would have led to significant capital gains for Takeda's venture fund.
We were retained by Takeda Chemical's venture fund for a 2nd project to recommend private and public biotech companies or licensing foundations/institutes located anywhere worldwide with I.P. on novel antibody-addressable targets. We initially evaluated over 140 Ab-related and proteomics/genomics entities worldwide, contacted about 75 for more information and initial due diligence, and briefly profiled 38. Takeda selected 19 semi-finalists for further evaluation and due diligence, and we then wrote detailed opinion reports on the 5 finalist companies chosen with our input.
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Very cordially yours,
David A. Palella
Founder
BIOSCIENCE VENTURES Inc.
“Global Corporate Development for Biopharmaceuticals since 1991”
San Diego, California
cell: 619-787-5767
email: dpalella@san.rr.com
email (backup): dpalella@gmail.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/davidpalella
http://www.BSVpartners.com
& Founder:
Japan Biotech/Biopharma Partnering Forum
http://www.linkedin.com/e/vgh/2857975/
Asia Business & Finance Roundup
http://www.linkedin.com/e/vgh/3132759/
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