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Making the Case for Universities in Medical Innovation and Access for the Developing World Ashley J. Stevens, D.Phil (Oxon), CLP President Elect, AUTM Universities, Innovation and Global Medicine Access Toronto, April 21, 2009. What is AUTM? What drives technology transfer?
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Making the Case for Universities in Medical Innovation and Access for the Developing World Ashley J. Stevens, D.Phil (Oxon), CLP President Elect, AUTM Universities, Innovation and Global Medicine Access Toronto, April 21, 2009
What is AUTM? What drives technology transfer? Universities and Drug Discovery Universities and Global Access What is AUTM’s role? Outline
AUTM is a living, dynamic, global network of more than 3,500 technology transfer professionals who work in academic, research, government, legal and commercial settings. AUTM is dedicated to promoting and supporting technology transfer through education, advocacy, networking and communication. 70% are employed in academic technology transfer 30% are employed by industry 75% USA 9% Canada 16% Rest of the World What is AUTM?
Founded in 1974 Oldest organization devoted to technology transfer US-based, but active worldwide Global leader What is AUTM?
It is an association of individuals It is not an association of organizations What is AUTM?
Advocacy Professional Development Service to Members Pillars of AUTM
Communicating the public benefits of technology transfer Policies that encourage technology transfer Federal Level Bayh-Dole Patent reform State level IP as a tangible asset Instutional level Nine Points to Consider Advocacy
Develop successful practices Training Courses Essentials of licensing Advanced licensing Course Start-up Business Development Course Software Publications Technology Transfer Practice Manual Better World Report Tomorrow’s Technology Transfer Surveys Professional Development
Meetings Annual, Regional, International Education Networking Academic Industry Government Information Service to Members
What Drives Technology Transfer? • Is it all about the money?
Dr. Mary Coleman, President, U. of Michigan “I think many people are often confused about why we are interested in technology commercialization, in nurturing start up companies, and in facilitating more patents and license agreements. It is not about the promise of future revenues that might be generated from this activity. You heard me correctly. It is not about the money. Of course, revenue generation serves as an incentive. But first and foremost, technology transfer must serve our core mission: sharing ideas and innovations in the service of society’s well-being. In fact, at Michigan we expect to re-invest institutional gains back into technology transfer efforts. Revenue generation is NOT the ultimate goal. It is simply the means by which we can increase the transfer of new knowledge into the business sector.” AUTM Annual Meeting Phoenix, AZ, 2005
AUTM 2007 Licensing Activity Survey * Those 145 academically discovered drugs represent ~0.06% of all disclosures over the last 27 years
Universities and Drug Discovery • Academia’s’ traditional role was to elucidate disease mechanisms • Identifying promising intervention points • Industry’s traditional role was to develop actual drugs and vaccines • Utilizing academia’s discoveries • Zerit highlighted universities’ role in discovery • Was Zerit an isolated case?
The Contribution of Public Sector Research to the Discovery of New Drugs Jonathan J. Jensen,[1],§ Katrine Wyller,[2],§ Eric R. London,[3] Sabarni K. Chatterjee,[5] Fiona E. Murray,[4] Mark L. Rohrbaugh,[5] and Ashley J. Stevens[6],¶ [1] Office of Technology Transfer, Boston University, Boston MA, § Contributed equally to this study, [2] Norwegian Radium Hospital Research Foundation, Oslo, Norway, [3] Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Princeton, NJ, [4] Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA [5] National Institutes of Health, Washington, D.C., [6] Office of Technology Transfer and Institute for Technology Entrepreneurship and Commercialization, Boston University, Boston, MA¶ Corresponding Author; astevens@ bu.edu
Universities and Drug Discovery Bottom Line: • Universities discover a significant number of new drugs • These drugs are available globally through universities’ licensees • Universities can have an opportunity to impact global access through their licensing policies
Global Access and Affordability • Dynamics of university license negotiations • University technologies are embryonic • Normally only in vitro and rodent model data • Generally, little proof-of-principle • Value to Universities is low • Universities’ negotiating power is low • “A hot academic technology is one two companies are interested in” • Academic technologies compete with licensee’s internal projects
Universities and Global Access • Varying degrees of awareness of the issue • Another business issue complicating negotiation • Where is the incentive for the OTT or Licensing Manager? • Universities are experimenting with approaches • “First do no harm” • Affordability requirements cannot be allowed to stop a qualified licensee • Pharma and biotechs cannot be forced to license academic inventions • The fatal flaw in S-4040
We educate our members about issues Our members advocate for change within their own organizations So what can we do? What is AUTM?
Advocacy Professional Development Service to Members AUTM’s Role
Encourage members to embrace the concept of global access provisions Work with companies and trade groups to accept global access Advocacy
Workshops Model language License agreements Institutional policies Case studies Better World Report 2009 Professional Development
Board level Task Force formed Engaging with external stakeholders UNITAID/WHO PPP’s Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Higher Education Associations AAU, AAMC, APLU, COGR, NAS, IOM UAEM Industry UIDP Service to Members