Wellington
Back from NZBio's annual conference, with a tonne of notes and not sure how to make them all makesense.
However, some random points of interest - unthemed.
•When talking withthe media, scientists need to overcome their embarrassment at constantly repeating a message.Scientists should still stick to the facts, let the journalist form an opinion. Stephen Goldson,strategy advisor to the office of the Prime Minister's Science and Advisory Committee
•Living Cell Technologies encapsulation semi-permeable membrane is one of its main pieces ofintellectual property - allows the transplanted pig insulin producing cells in a human body not tobe rejected by the body's immune system. Prof Bob Elliot
•Thermophilic bacteria from geothermal hot pools are an attractive potential vehicle in thebioenergy and biochemical industries. One major reason is that because they exist in silica richenvironments, they immediately 'grab' any carbon (i.e. tree that falls into hot pool) that comestheir way. Isolating and identifying potential candidates for commercial application is one ofScion's many goals
•Scion's TOGA (titremetric and off-gas analysis) machine, which allows realtime adjustment ofanaerobic environments/fermentation, has attracted considerable purchasing interest from otherparties.
•A sense of simplicity is a growing food trend. A general opposition to genetically modifiedfoods may also push into possible nano foods and other new types of food products. The educated,globally aware and health conscious food buyers (where higher value food products are aimed) may infact reject novel foods. Dr Karin Cronin, ESR, 'sustainable decision-making for future foodtechnologies'.
•The linear, conveyor-belt push of new food products needs to be balanced with anunderstanding of society and citizens into the markets - before too much product development iscarried out. Karin Cronin again
•Why is working with big pharma so difficult/challenging….some numbers. In 2010, Merckreceived 7000 opportunities to review. 1000 of these were taken through to committee, 400 of whichwent to confidentiality agreements. Merck signed 46 significant deals/licences. Dr David Nicholson,Merck Inc (USA).
•Bomac Animal Health (recently purchased by Bayer), actively gathers information and industry'gossip', collects competitors' IP activity information, obtains ongoing feedback from researchers,distributors and vets. "Does its research, knows its markets, positions its IP around the market notthe product." Kate Wilson, James & Wells.