In: Operations Management
Case Study 1
Quick Biotech
It is late in September 2010, and Michelle Chang, a doctoral
student at the National
University of Singapore (NUS), is to meet her colleagues Henry Tan
and Mike Hammer from the Institute of Molecular Biology again in a
few days to discuss the course of action to be pursued for the
establishment of Quick Biotech. Henry Tan and Mike Hammer both hold
doctorates in biology and work at NUS as senior assistants. A few
months before, they patented a process for the production of multi
protein complexes, which they had already put to successful use,
and about which they had received favourable feedback. Now, the
three colleagues want to set-up a company called Quick Biotech in
order to apply the new technology to a wider field.
Background
The human body is exposed to numerous external influences and
internal genetic defects, which cause the proteins in our cells to
malfunction. Proteins constitute the basis of all biological
processes. If proteins no longer fulfill their function adequately
owing to defects, this often results in life-threatening illnesses,
such as cancer. This is why almost all drugs have effect on
proteins. Consequently, most research and development work for
drugs and therapies need protein, which is why both academic
research institutions and the pharmaceutical companies use proteins
as a basis to their research activities.
Recently, progress in fundamental research revealed the total of
the proteins in a cell, which in the case of human being amounts to
more than 40,000 proteins. It became obvious that the proteins in a
cell do not work individually; rather, they combine to act as
protein complexes that are made up of numerous protein components.
In addition, virtually all biological processes in cells are
executed by such protein complexes. This has crucial consequences
for research; in order to understand how proteins work, protein
machines must be explored as a whole, and not only their individual
protein components.
Nonetheless, academic institutes and the pharmaceutical industry
have almost exclusively focused on individual, isolated proteins.
The primary reason for this was that human protein machines are
very difficult to produce in a pure form. Although the development
of modern, recombinant methods now enables the production of
individual protein components, there is still a demand for a
technology that is able to provide sufficient volumes of entire
protein machine, which form the basis of biological functions. This
is also Michelle’s, Henry’s and Mike’s experience in their research
at NUS. They realize that no suitable technology for the production
of protein machines exists. This is why they developed their own
technology: the MultiBac technology.
The technology
The MultiBac technology uses a modified, yet greatly improved
version of the so called “baculovirus gene transfer vector” to
produce any combination of proteins in great volumes and of high
quality. The genes of a great number of proteins, such as human
ones, can be placed on this gene transfer vector. This process can
be carried out in an ordinary molecular biology laboratory. The
MultiBca gene transfer vector multiplies in cell cultures and
constitutes no danger to human beings. Therefore, no special health
and safety regulations are required to work with this system.
The gene transfer vector of the MultiBac system was developed to
provide it with a unique feature namely, that is particularly
careful in the production of the desired protein machines. For
customers, this is a guarantee of the unsurpassed quality of the
protein complex produced with the MultiBac technology. In
comparison with conventional processes, the simplified MultiBac
technology additionally saves a substantial amount of time for the
production of the desired protein product: it only takes weeks
rather than months. Also, the technology offers the possibility to
build numerous different protein complexes from the same protein
components on a modular basis and, thus, of supplying individual
solution to customers’ problems.
Laboratories of renowned research institutes already use MultiBac,
which NUS has made available as trial specimens. This shows that
the technology works, is mature and has a selling potential. The
process was patented last year by NUS, and since then it was
developed in the context of employment at the university. However,
the rights can be assigned to a start up, for instance, in the form
of an exclusive license.
The next steps to launch the venture
In autumn 2010, Michelle is in the final stages of her doctoral
thesis, which she wants to complete by the year. After that, she
needs to work full time for the new company. In contrast, Henry and
Mike want to retain their jobs at NUS and spend less time on the
company. As such, they would not be involved in the company’s
operative daily business but will assume an advisory function. They
will receive shares in the start-up but will not be on the company
payroll.
One of the key roles of Henry and Mike will be to guarantee long
term access to the latest findings in scientific research. This
model, whereby some of the founders remain at the university, has
already proved successful in a number of other biotechnology start
ups. Research in the field of biotechnology is very costly; both in
terms of time and money, so only by retaining close links with a
research institution will the company ensure that it will always
work with the latest technologies and, thus, remain
competitive.
One of the greatest challenges currently perceived by the team is
to secure funding for the new company. Although the founders are
able to invest S$200, 000 of their personal savings into the
enterprise and, thus, realize a small scale start up, present plans
are based on the assumption that at least S$500 000 of external
capital will be needed for the first two years.
These funds will primarily serve to finance Michelle’s position and
a small team of lab assistants in charge of producing the protein
complex for the clients. The product will be sold via a network of
sales agents, and other functions, such as accounting and finance,
will be outsourced to a professional accountant.
Answer all questions.
1. Should Michelle consider debt or equity to finance QuickBiotech?
Explain your answer.
2. Would you consider any alternative sources or finance? Which
one? Why?
3. Analyse other issues to be addressed before QuickBiotech is
launched.
Please write all your answers in essay format. Do not answer in point-form unless the questions mention “List” or “State”. It is not necessary to precede each answer with an introduction and end with a summary. Proceed directly with the answer
PLEASE GUYS NEED ANSWER IN ESSAY,THANK YOU
Answer:-
1)
As a startup, there are numerous ways the underlying capital and subsidizing for the business can be raised. Be that as it may, making little strides is consistently be more secure and is a thought based startup wandering into totally obscure battleground it is better to go for equity financing as opposed to debt subsidizing. The debt subsidizing is risky as though because of any explanation in the event that the business falls flat, at that point the debt will become an obligation to be paid off from own cash, while if there should be an occurrence of equity financing the risk and rewards both are shared.
On the off chance that the central concern is not having some other accomplice or equity investor in the business other than the accomplices who are working on the thought the debt subsidizing is the alternative however with an exceptionally serious extent of monetary risk.
2)
The other alternative wellspring of finance they should pursue. In the event that they would prefer not to build the equity investors, at that point they can go for crowdfunding as a substitute wellspring of finance, where they can approach the customer organizations for who they would be causing the item to do the prebuying and reserve ahead of time so that with that cash they to can begin the activity. Be that as it may, this is conceivable just when the thought is a major forward leap and the future estimation of the thought is exceptionally high.
3)
Before beginning the business the regulatory consistence must be reworked and ought not be there any suspicion taken and ignored. Therefore an away from of the all the consistence and licensed innovation rights-related conditions ought to be reverified. The other regulatory and lawful consistence identified with the business and industry-explicit prerequisites should be understood and satisfied.
The idea of the corporation or business ought to be thorough deliberated and accordingly, the formation of the substance ought to be done and the registration procedure must be finished. All the business related agreement ought to be checked for its lawful validness and terms.
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