Burrill: Big Pharma's academic tie-ups are 'nuts'

During an event at the University of Chicago, biotech visionary Steven Burrill discussed Big Pharma's role in the healthcare system and mentioned that its fate will lie in its ability to reinvent itself. One of the trends he commented on is the string of tie-ups involving drugmakers and academic groups, a trend that could help pharma stay on the cutting edge of research as it axes scientists' jobs. After saying that pharma has "gone back to school" in the academic collaborations, he added: "This is somewhat nuts. Pharma wants access to that ability but has no interest in paying for the downstream development." Read more