Hot Topic: Biotechs’ publishing dilemma

Biotechs are becoming increasingly cautious about what they publish in scientific journals. 

The growing worry is that other companies, often based in China, will take the freshly published information and run with it – and go on to develop a target or very early stage drug much faster than the originator. 

This was a subject raised last week on a panel at the Anglonordic Life Science Conference in London, by Dr Adi Hoess, CEO of Cambridge-based ViaNautis. 

ViaNautis is pioneering a new way of delivering cell and gene therapies using tiny structures called polyNaut nanovesicles. 

The dilemma raises important questions. 

How much information should you now publish in a scientific paper?  

Companies have to think very carefully about this. There’s a strong argument for keeping more information “under your hat”, as we say here in the UK, than in the past. 

But publishing your achievements in scientific journals is one of the most effective and important ways of telling the world what you are doing, and that you have new technology that is worth taking seriously, and worth investing in. 

If that public channel is becoming more dangerous, then what can you do? 

Well, as Adi Hoess said, you have to take your sensitive information directly to the people who matter – namely, potential investors or partners. 

You have to get in a room with them, and talk it over, in a place where you know your innovation is secure and won’t be developed by a rival. 

That means there is an ever-greater premium on building relationships with those potential investors and partners. 

Because today, good communication isn’t just about telling everyone, everything that you are doing. It’s about getting to know the right people, and telling them about it. 

At Optimum Strategic Communications we are experts in helping life science companies connect with the right people, and communicating with them in the right way. So get in touch if you’d like to know more.