home post – Biostart Magazine

Protecting your IP: Where to start?

September 19, 2019 Jane 0

The cultural difference between an academic openness and the need for privacy in early stages of a commercial enterprise are pronounced. If a patent portfolio is part of your company offering, then you will need to reconsider what you disclose publicly from now on.

We spoke with Adrian Tombling from Withers & Rogers to get his perspective as a patent attorney. With his own academic background in genetics, he has extensive experience representing biotech and pharma companies in patent applications.

There are two pieces of fundamental advice to consider regarding your start up.

Firstly, you must not disclose it publicly until you’ve considered whether you want to protect it via a patent. This is essential. Clients have said to me “I’ve got this great idea…I only disclosed this part”. But often what they…

Attached Issue № 0519

Collaboration, Translation And The Future Of Microbiome Innovation

April 17, 2019 root 0

Translation. When we hear this word, it may evoke feelings of excitement, adventure and possibility that come with learning different languages or travelling to a foreign country. For scientists, ‘translation’ also suggests moving research findings from the laboratory into clinical practice. Just as words are translated, so too are…

Attached Issue № 0219

David Kyle, Evolve Biosystems

March 27, 2019 Jane 0

Dr. David Kyle has co-founded biotech companies for 35 years in nutrition and health including Martek Biosciences which was acquired in 2011 for $1.1 billion. For the first issue of Biostart, he spoke to us about the lessons he’s learned during his career.

Where did Evolve begin?

Evolve’s work is based on 15 years of previous research at the University of California at Davis. A cross-functional team of world-class scientists made an incredible discovery. The early microbiome of the infant is defined by the 15% of energy in human breast milk that is not directly available to the infant, but rather it is tied up in a soluble fibre (Human Milk Oligosaccharides or HMO) that feeds the new-born infant gut microbiome.

Interestingly, only a single bacterial species, Bifidobacterial infantis, has the capability for completely consuming all those HMO and remarkably, this species has been lost from most infants in the developed world due primarily to a lifetime exposure to antibiotics. The seeding of an infant’s gut microbiome has historically come from its mother’s gut microbiome, but mothers in the U.S. today have had 15-20 courses of antibiotics from the time they were born until the time they deliver their first baby. Her microbiome diversity has been depleted significantly, including this important symbiont and if mom does not have the B. infantis, she cannot pass it on to her baby and the symbiosis has…

Attached Issue № 0219

Do I need a PR strategy?

January 23, 2019 root 0

When you start a business, especially one rooted in the exciting and fast-moving world of biotechnology, it can be easy to find yourself overwhelmed by all the different responsibilities. You’ve established a set of key strategies and visions, written your five-year development plan, even designed a logo and begun to think about defining your brand when suddenly it hits you – how do we get the word out there? What about our…

Could you write for Biostart?

January 2, 2019 root 0

Over the past decade of running conferences in biotechnology, we’ve seen first-hand the impact start-up companies have in the industry. We’ve noticed over the past few years that there’s a real gap in the market for good, quality advice for those moving from academia to industry, and so we are excited to be launching Biostart: the free, online magazine for CXOs looking to develop their biotech business.

Biostart will offer practical advice and insights into the industry and what it takes to move from basic science to running a successful company.

We are looking for contributors in the following areas to share their experience and knowledge:

Company spotlights
Finance
Intellectual Property
Practical skills (such as selling and networking)
Case studies
Regulation
Investor perspectives
Personal development (how to lead a team, staff recruitment, etc).

If you would be interested in writing on one of these topics or have an idea for something different, we’d love to hear from you. Contact our editor at jane.williams@biostartmagazine.com.