The Business of Biotech

Business of Biotech

Welcome to the Business of Biotech. This course is highly interactive, engaging students in workshop fashion. The course utilizes the “Live Online Learning” format via Zoom. Students attend each of the eight weekly classes at the same time. With a capacity limit of just 24, all students get to participate frequently in lively discussions. This format is actually superior to in-person meetings.

Topics include:

• Value innovation – Fundamentals of low risk entrepreneurship.
• Critical thinking & great communications skills – Essential for long term career success.
• The origins of biotech – Genentech’s history and technical foundations.
• FDA regulation – Pathways and times to approval for drugs, devices and biologics.
• Intellectual property – Patents and licensing rights for long-term competitive advantage.
• Financing – The basics including venture capital, academic spinouts and opportunity analysis.
• Fast exit ventures – Creating lean startups with the goal of being acquired within 3 years.
• Business development – Alternatives to an MBA to prepare for this lucrative position.
• Biotech business models – Proceeding from least to most financially attractive.
• Healthcare disruption – How medical care will evolve, adapt and modernize operations.
• Acquisitions & IPOs – Methods and tools for analyzing, pricing and negotiating financial exits.

By the end of this course, you will: 

• Impress your colleagues and excel in job interviews with your knowledge of biotech history, business fundamentals and operations.
• Employ critical thinking to identify the root cause of problems and formulate innovative and cost-effective solutions, the key to disruptive innovation.

The learning paradigm is learn at home - experience in class as opposed to cram at home and forget after the exam. All materials are online including several business school cases. Classes include discussions of the assigned materials plus breakout room exercises and mock negotiations. In addition to the core subjects, students experience critical thinking and effective communications. These are the fabric of this course and correlate highly with career success.

Validated testimonials:

"It is true when I say that this has been one of the most interesting courses that I have taken. It wasn't like the courses one takes only to forget the content after exams. In fact, after every class I felt I learned something that will stay with me forever." M. Husain, winter 2018.

“I enjoyed this course and believe the information I learned will definitely stick with me in the future. It has definitely stood out in my graduate career from the rest of the classes I have taken. I can look at a business from a different, much more informed angle than I previously always had, all thanks to you and your class. So thanks again!” G. Scofield, Fall 2019.

“I just wanted to say thank you for the incredible experience this past quarter. To say this class was unlike any class I've taken before would be an understatement - and I mean that in the best way possible. Of all the many, many classes I've taken at this university over the past five years, I'll definitely remember yours as one I'm very glad I took.” D. Melko, Spring 2021.