Entrepreneurship in Drug Discovery and Development

Course content

This course is designed for students who want to learn about idea development, entrepreneurship, and start-up processes within the pharmaceuticals and related (bio)technologies area. While intellectual property rights form an important part of the content, the scope of the course is broader than this, emphasizing an overview of entrepreneurship within the area, in which intellectual property constitutes

one of several key aspects. In doing so, conditions for innovation, intellectual property rights, and patenting are introduced, covering the structure of patent applications and concepts such as objective novelty, priority principle, and inventive step. An account is also made of various aspects of patent literature, as well as approaches to searches within the pharmaceutical area. These theoretical sessions are complemented by illustrative case studies. In parallel, students will apply these tools to develop a venture idea in groups of 3-5 students through project work, in-class exercises, and interaction with stakeholders, including considerations of: (i) intellectual property rights, (ii) market/competition, (iii) scientific/technical development aspects, (iv) clinical trial plans, and (v) investment strategies, ultimately resulting in the development of a business case, to be presented orally at the final workshop, as well as in a written business case outline.

 

The purpose of the course is to provide students interested in developing their own ventures and/or in entrepreneurial and innovation processes with a set of tools they can use to engage in new ventures or innovation teams within the pharmaceutical area. Moreover, the course aims to provide an overview of the significance of intellectual property rights in pharmaceutical research and development. This is linked to current developments within pharmaceutical industry, how this relates to entrepreneurial opportunities, as well as to strategic considerations of market/competition, scientific/technical development aspects, clinical trial plans, and investment strategies, illustrated by business case studies. To set this in practice, the students will develop a business case in groups of 3-5, to be presented/pitched at a final workshop, and provided feedback on by other students and the course team. In addition, students will write a written business case outline based on the pitch. For this, students are encouraged to come up with an idea beforehand. Alternatively, students will be able to develop an idea with help from the course team. To facilitate the business case development, and to secure progression, each group is provided with a mentor to support in business case identification and pitch finalization. The outcome is that students will be able to build on the knowledge and teamwork experiences from the course during their entrepreneurial career, and in further graduate courses on specific topics within innovation, entrepreneurship, and business development. 

Education

Bacheloruddannelsen i farmaci - valgfrit

Learning outcome

On completion of the course the student will be able to:

 

Knowledge

-show an overview of developments in the pharmaceutics area, and business opportunities related to this.

-explain principles of intellectual property rights and international patenting systems.

-explain the importance of an active intellectual property rights strategy for pharmaceuticals (and related (bio)technologies) business development.

-show an overview of business development aspects, particularly relating to start-ups, in the pharmaceutic area.

 

Skills

-assess current developments within pharmaceutical industry, and how this translates into entrepreneurial business opportunities.

-identify innovative elements and its relationship to intellectual property rights.

-use professional databases to find relevant patents and patent applications.

-read and interpret patents and patent applications to assess the strengths/weaknesses and freedom-to operate situation.

-communicate ideas to stakeholders, including team members, investors, customers, collaborators, and other potential partners

 

Competences

-provide an overview familiarity with the process of pharmaceuticals development.

-analyze and integrate open innovation and business model concepts and practices to understand, on a basic level, how pharmaceutical companies operate and compete in the market.

-navigate in the patent landscape surrounding a product and explain the different stages of the patenting process, and requirements for obtaining a patent.

-analyze the commercial potential of inventions based on technological and medical considerations, IP situation, and market analyses.

-describe and compare the different means to fund or finance inventions to commercialize these including an introduction to business cases and raising venture capital for the new company.

-develop and present orally a business case integrating the aspects above.

-interact with external partners, both industrial and academic.

Class and guest lectures will provide students with an overview of current developments within pharmaceutical industry, and how these translate into entrepreneurial opportunities. They will also cover aspects of intellectual property rights, stakeholder interactions, and business strategy considerations, illustrated with case stories. Related to this, groups of 3-5 students will also be given a patent case, to be presented and discussed orally. As a core integrating activity of the course, students will develop a business case on a venture idea, integrating these aspects, and give a presentation/pitch of their project. Furthermore, students will give and receive feedback on their project work, will need to learn how to work and organize themselves in teams, and will practice communication of business ideas.

Selected documents including review articles, patent applications, and supplementary notes.

Students are expected to have a relevant background (e.g., from the pharmaceutical, life, or health sciences).
The course is designed to give students a broad introduction to entrepreneurship within the pharmaceuticals and related (bio)technologies area. No prerequisites with entrepreneurship are required.

Oral
Individual
Collective
Continuous feedback during the course of the semester
Peer feedback (Students give each other feedback)
ECTS
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Continuous assessment
Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
passed/not passed
Censorship form
No external censorship
Criteria for exam assessment

-Active with regards to questions and discussions in relation to lectures

and guest lectures

-Active during group-wise patent case oral presentations and discussions, individual contributions required.  

- Active in business case development (done in groups of 3-5)

-Active during group meetings with the group mentor

- Active (presentation and questions/discussions) in the final workshop

- Clear and substantial contributions to final business case oral and written, and shared responsibility of overall business case. 

-Business case presentation evaluated on the group level, other activity and progress evaluated individually.

Part time Master and Diploma courses

  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 20
  • Class Instruction
  • 5
  • Preparation
  • 90
  • Project work
  • 85
  • Guidance
  • 5
  • English
  • 205

Kursusinformation

Language
English
Course number
SFAB25001U
ECTS
7,5 ECTS
Programme level
Bachelor
Bachelor choice
Duration

1 block

Placement
Block 4
Schedulegroup
B
Capacity
20
Studyboard
Study Board of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Contracting department
  • Department of Pharmacy
Contracting faculty
  • Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
Course Coordinator
  • Martin Malmsten   (15-716576786d723271657071777869724477797268326f7932686f)
Martin Malmsten
Teacher

Martin Malmsten (IF); Course responsible
Anette Müllertz (IF)
Kristian Strømgaard (ILF)
Trond Ulven (ILF)

Saved on the 01-04-2025

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