15.124/HST.973  Evaluating a Biomedical Business Concept (begins Feb. 7, Alt Thursdays)

Critical analysis of new biomedical business ideas. Principals of early stage companies, or inventors, present their ideas and provide background material including scientific papers and patents. Teams of students evaluate each business idea. Students develop a series of analyses concerning the critical issues that each business idea would face. Issues may include efficacy of a technology, intellectual property protection, market opportunity, regulatory and reimbursement hurdles, competitive threats and potential return on investment. Students are encouraged to review scientific, clinical, patent and marketing literature as well as interview key individuals including principals, inventors, potential customers and competitors. Analyses focus on the issues most critical for the success of the proposed business concept.