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Study: Forget the 'Blockbusters'
A study whose results were reported December 8 asserts that the pharmaceutical industry's “blockbuster” approach to developing new drugs is no longer viable in today's marketplace. The study, conducted by Bain & Co., a business consulting firm with offices in 19 countries, found that the costs for discovering, developing and launching each new drug had risen to $1.7 billion, an increase of 55% over the average costs for the 5 years from 1995 to 2000. Driving costs upward, the study reports, are declining R&D productivity (one drug compound for every 13 discovered and placed in clinical trials now makes it to market, compared to one in eight between 1995 and 2000), rising costs of commercialization, increasing payor influence (including aggressive patent challenges) and shorter exclusivity periods. These rising costs are expected to drive down investment returns.
One of the co-authors of the study, Ashish Singh, director of Bain's Global Healthcare Practice, opines that large pharmaceutical concerns will need to abandon their present drug development models if they are to remain competitive, but they have thus far failed to do so because they are “prisoner[s] of past successes.” The study suggests that a better strategy for pharmaceutical product development would include increased use of partnerships to spread risk, a more customer-driven approach and development of a more decentralized organizational model based on discrete business units.
Law Firms are Reducing Redundant Real Estate by Bringing Support Services Back to the Office
A trend analysis of the benefits and challenges of bringing back administrative, word processing and billing services to law offices.
New York's Latest Cybersecurity Commitment
On Aug. 9, 2023, Gov. Kathy Hochul introduced New York's inaugural comprehensive cybersecurity strategy. In sum, the plan aims to update government networks, bolster county-level digital defenses, and regulate critical infrastructure.
Bit Parts
Summary Judgment Denied Defendant in Declaratory Action by Producer of To Kill a Mockingbird Broadway Play Seeking Amateur Theatrical Rights
Risks of “Baseball Arbitration” in Resolving Real Estate Disputes
“Baseball arbitration” refers to the process used in Major League Baseball in which if an eligible player's representative and the club ownership cannot reach a compensation agreement through negotiation, each party enters a final submission and during a formal hearing each side — player and management — presents its case and then the designated panel of arbitrators chooses one of the salary bids with no other result being allowed. This method has become increasingly popular even beyond the sport of baseball.
Disconnect Between In-House and Outside Counsel
'Disconnect Between In-House and Outside Counsel is a continuation of the discussion of client expectations and the disconnect that often occurs. And although the outside attorneys should be pursuing how inside-counsel actually think, inside counsel should make an effort to impart this information without waiting to be asked.