Your Analysis should consist of a full overview of the modality’s biological basis, its current
progress toward use in the clinic, and future directions. Specifically, you should consider the
following:
1) Technical Overview
● What is the scientific basis for the modality?
● How do scientists envision its use as a therapeutic?
● What is the current state of development?
● What are the known or likely off-target effects, or other potential
problems/challenges to its use in patients?
● What problems would it solve with respect to current therapeutics?
2) Ongoing Research and Future Directions
● What disease indications are likely candidates for this modality?
● How would patients benefit from this new treatment?
● What specific issues with patient treatment will this potentially improve?
● What technical, legal, regulatory barriers will need to be overcome to successfully deploy this modality in patient treatment?
● Are the economic considerations that will need to be considered?
General advice/caveats:
● Please restrict your report to Therapeutics. Some assignments may have device /
behavioral / diet / social elements to treatment applications, but this class should
focus on the therapeutic applications
● Pay attention to IP and regulatory issues. Use public resources (e.g. USPTO) to
research patents, clinical trials, and other information that will help you understand
the current progress of research
● Put patients first – what is the best course of action for the individuals receiving
treatment? How will one or other course of treatment affect patient outcomes?
● How can our company “win” the race to cure x disease? What are the major
risk/reward considerations for the various potential therapeutic modalities?
● How do key regulators regard different treatment modalities? Do they have greater
concerns about some modalities over others, and how will this affect development of
a therapeutic?
● Include a bibliography!
