AstraZeneca development director John Patterson put the spotlight on the importance of R&D during the FT Global Pharma and Biotech conference in London, but he made it clear that in-licensing would drive a swelling portion of the company's future drug work. Patterson estimated that in four years, 20 to 30 percent of the company's development portfolio will have been in-licensed. AstraZeneca has been hungry for new deals recently, buying Cambridge Antibody Technology [1] and KuDOS. Patterson also noted that small biotechs looking to ink a licensing deal shouldn't have an unrealistic attitude about their options in a deal. That sounds distinctly like he's staking out a bargaining position with any would-be partners.
- read the AFX report [2] on AstraZeneca
Links:
[1] http://www.fiercebiotech.com/story/cat-fetches-1-3b-in-astrazeneca-buyout/2006-05-15
[2] http://www.forbes.com/business/feeds/afx/2006/09/19/afx3028541.html