Burke Bioventures provides strategic advice and scientific direction for biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and drug delivery companies, and interim R&D management of venture-backed start-ups. In addition we provide technical due diligence in support of venture investment, licensing, and M&A.
Working closely with the CSO, a full-time professor of one of the world’s leading universities, we advised on a wide range of operational matters. Services included drafting a business plan; engaging and working closely with IP and corporate attorneys; and assisting with staff performance management for five full-time lab-based staff. Through a mixture of on-site and virtual services totaling 2-4 days/month over an 18 month period, the client reached a level of maturity where a CEO could be hired on a full-time basis.
A Fortune 500 company formed a $180M partnership with a clinical-stage cancer nanomedicine company, and needed guidance in the execution of the partnership. We reviewed project plans; providing input on the preclinical program and on milestones; reviewed all meeting minutes and presentation materials for the joint project steering committee; and provided input to supporting discovery and preclinical development functions, particularly on matters relating to immunotoxicity and specialized analytical methods required for support of the program.
A private foundation funded a major project for application of a small biotech company’s advanced drug delivery technology to a global health problem. We met personally with the biotech company management and reviewed their technical capabilities and facilities; reviewed the program plans and advised the foundation on appropriate success metrics; and participated in regular project reviews, providing critical feedback to the sponsor. When the company fell short of its technical goals we helped them secure a program extension based on their rapid rate of progress and a focused revised project plan.
A small biotech company, following several years of development and two major funding rounds, produced a data package supporting a late preclinical-stage asset. We advised the client on the readiness for IND-enabling studies, options for addressing some unusual safety findings, and relative prioritization of lead and back-up programs. We provided additional guidance on readiness to engage in discussions with potential corporate partners, and introduced the client to a business development consultant to potentially represent them in initial discussions.