Big Pharma conclude M&A is not the new R&D

World leaders meet at the illustrious NGP Summit in Florida to face up to economic woes.

With large firms seeking synergies to drive down R&D costs, M&A deals can aid in the transfer of technical knowledge, scalability and reduce time to market. However, previous M&A periods have not alleviated the productivity crisis. While short term gains emerge from these deals, in the mid to long term, R&D innovation, organic growth, and internal drivers are still key facet’s behind creating a successful company and providing an organization with sustainability.

The debate rages on at the NGP Summit (currently being held in Florida) where visionaries such as Jeffery Nye, Chief Medical Officer at Johnson & Johnson, Reinilde Heyrman—VP of Clinical Development at Daiichi Sankyo, Oscar Laskin—VP of Early Development at Celgene are leading the debate, joined by Ann Wang—VP of Clinical Operations at Human Genome Sciences who have recently seen a surge of 277 % in their stock price owing to the continuing success of their ‘Benlysta’ drug.

The NGP Summit clearly illustrates that the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry is in a state of transition. M&A, reorganization, consolidation, and portfolio changes are being evaluated in order to maintain growth centers in the face of a myriad of serious challenges. Companies such as Millipore, Definiens and PPD were called by the committee to share their thought leadership amongst over fifty of the worlds ‘big Pharma’ leaders.

“The willingness for the industry to unite in such a way clearly demonstrates long-term strategies for improved business processes so long-term investment in R&D can be secured”. Drew Contessa – NGP Director

Various economic pressures have triggered yet another wave in M&A deals in the industry as companies seek to bring in new assets, capabilities and infrastructures and redesign their organizations going forward. But is this sustainable for long-term growth? The fifty strong committee are set to rejoin at the NGP in April 2010 to review.

Karl Rove speaks up for the American people

Former Deputy Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to President George W. Bush unites industry at the NG O&G Summit

New Orleans is preparing to welcome the biggest names in Oil when the illustrious Next Generation Oil and Gas Summit comes into town. Key personnel including Commissioner Elizabeth A. Jones and Brian Rovelli - President of Total E&P have confirmed attendance to discuss the US reliance of foreign energy markets, technology investments to improve efficiency, building jobs for the American people, and increasing government interventions on the Energy market.

The U.S. seems to be at the brink of losing manufacturing jobs to India and China and implementation of a near-term energy strategy would send a strong message out. Karl Rove is set to lead the discussion and drive home the need of the American people.

“Americans instinctively understand what too many policymakers ignore. We need affordable and reliable energy to power our economy and provide jobs. Relying more on domestic energy sources and less on those of the Persian Gulf makes us more secure. And while conservation and alternatives are good, America will be better off if markets set energy prices, not government bureaucrats. The challenge is getting lawmakers to embrace what the American people already have.” – Karl Rove (Former Deputy Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to President George W. Bush).

The summit (now in its third year) has over fifty leaders in attendance and has got the industry waiting with bated breath on the outcomes.

"Karl is pulling the industry together, working to secure domestic growth, We do not want to see legislation transformed into a mechanism for transferring jobs overseas," Will Doll – Director NG O&G.

Business Networking sites see 18% rise in Female members

The largest growing economic force in the world isn't China or India -- it's women, and this is matched with online usage – says Meettheboss.com study.

The largest growing economic force in the world is not China or India it is Women. The earning power of women globally is expected to reach $18 trillion by 2014, a $5 trillion rise according to World Bank estimates. That is more than twice the estimated 2014 GDP of China and India combined. Although the average women still earns only 77 cents for every dollar men do this is set to grow as more and more women are finding themselves in board rooms.

Such career advancement has brought the female workforce online to share ideas and best business practices. MeettheBoss.com (a world leading online business network) has shown an increase of female sign-ups of 18% from this time last year.

“It is fantastic to see so many women embrace the technology and use it to their advantage, every day I see more and more online” Harlan Davies, MeettheBoss director.

MeettheBoss maintains that the site will not be making any changes for the rush of its new female members “The current way companies appeal to women is to take a male product and paint it pink but this is both patronizing and unnecessary, our members are extremely powerful business people and would not rise to such gimmicks”

The site boasts innovative connectivity amongst peers with an internal Video Conferencing tool as well as Instant Messaging, forums, blogs, tweets and up to the minute news fed individually to each user based on their unique business interests. This sophisticated online aggregation has been popular to the sites members and has seen leading business women such as Isabelle M. Conner Global Head of Marketing ING Group, Dr Anne Phillips, Medicine Development Leader, GlaxoSmithKline and Joanna Young Human, SVP, Liberty Mutual take the limelight and give online presentations to the entire community through MeettheBoss TV on their views of best business practices.

Burnt Out Economy finds new life with Green Technology

'Green jobs' are supported by the Senate on the week that Utilities leaders meet to refine operations – But have they missed the Green Rush?


Profits in the Utilities sector have fallen and experts say it may not be until 2011 that any improvements can be seen. Consumer demand has decreased dramatically since the economic crisis first began, as housing and commercial construction markets have seen a severe drop in business. So key visionaries rallied last week at the greatly anticipated NGU Summit to discuss ways in which they can best invest in innovative technologies to secure top-line growth.

Met with a standing ovation, Diane Grueneich – Commissioner, State Of California Public Utilities Commission opened proceedings looking at the implementation of energy efficiency programs and building partnerships nationally and internationally that advance best practices in clean energy and policies to achieve maximum energy savings. Such Green Technology was backed by the senate as a way of bolstering the domestic economy.

“The U.S. is at the brink of losing manufacturing jobs to India and China and implementation of a near-term renewable energy standard would send a strong message and would do the most to boost demand.” Michael Peck, North American spokesman for Gamesa USA

Efficiency on existing distribution networks and the ‘near-term’ transformation to a Renewable network was a key focus throughout the summit with Andres Carvallo – CIO, Austin Energy was joined by Mark Gray – Chief Engineer, AEP, Steven Malnight – VP Renewable Energy, Pacific Gas & Electric, , Ted Schultz – VP Energy Efficiency, Duke Energy, David Mead – VP Engineering & Technical Services, Southern California Edison and Jay Ignacio – President, Hawaii Electric to talk about their thoughts on the consequences of smart energy management, customer-sited solar, energy storage and the technologies that need to be in place to capitalize on the ‘Green Rush’. Thought leadership came from PV Powered, HP, ACCIONA Energy, Itron, Syclo
And Barnard Construction Company, Inc.

"Its great to see the industry work together to secure domestic growth, We do not want to see climate legislation transformed into a mechanism for transferring jobs overseas," Tom Macdonald – NGU US Summit Director
The goal was clear, to invest in a Greener and innovative future in line with Government backing, but can the US Utility sector keep up with the Global ‘Green Rush’ as China and Europe steam ahead? Utility leaders have agreed to reform in Texas May 2010 to review.

Ulitzer Named "New Media" Partner of Greatly Anticipated iStrategy Event in Berlin

SYS-CON-owned Ulitzer has been touted as the ‘Wikipedia Killer' with now over 7,000 authors online sharing news, views and industry trends on the sites' innovative blogging system. Magazines are managed and created on Ulitzer by visionaries of the digital media space, some of which brought the sites attention to the organizers of what is now the most anticipated New Media event to happen next year - The iStrategy 2010 in Berlin.

For more information click here.

The iStrategy program is famed for educating the corporate elite in the relatively infant innovation of Social Media. Such visionaries as Michael Donnelly Group Director Worldwide Interactive Marketing at Coca-Cola, Michael Buck, Global Head , SMB Online Dell and Ralf Ahamer CMO, XING are sharing their successes at the conference in February next year, looking at; ever changing media consumption patterns and the rapid growth of mobile web, social networking, behavioral targeting, vodcasting, email marketing, viral marketing and how their companies have so brilliantly embraced online advancements to bring them closer to the consumer.

"We have over 150 CMOs confirmed for the Berlin Conference, they are all keen to learn what web 2.0 can do for their business, and we are delighted to welcome such a luminary within the digital media space as SYS-CON's Jeremy Geelan." Richard Owen - iStrategy Director.

A new ‘Internet' has been born that can flatten the market place if not managed correctly. New opportunities create greater challenges for any company to stay ahead. Thanks to sites like Ulitzer the corporate world has finally embraced online social media as a real competitive advantage, and the tier ones are now incorporating such initiatives in their 2010 business plans - but who will be left behind?

For more information click here.

Pharmaceutical Industry Set to Emerge as winners in the Healthcare Reform

Pharmaceutical Leaders are set to meet at the anticipated NGP US Summit Next week to discuss reform

Once a powerful profit-machine, big pharma is stumbling ,the threat of further government intervention, drying product pipelines, fierce competition from generic manufacturers, consumer concerns about safety, and false marketing claims is forcing leaders to revisit operations to secure top line Growth. So leaders such as Judith Marquis, Group VP Genzyme, Jeffrey Nye, Chief Medical Officer J&J Pharmaceuticals and James Kirwin VP Global Clinical Operation Wyeth Pharmaceuticals are uniting with over 50 other figureheads at the renowned NGP US Summit next week in Florida to discuss future technology investments to strengthen the industry and improve efficiency to “weather the Healthcare Reform”.

Thomas Haverty – Global VP, Global Clinical Research, Schering-Plough is set to start proceedings and our sources tell us he will be talking about Responding to 21st Century Drug Development Challenge.

“While healthcare reform has dominated headlines, drug companies have come through the debate relatively untouched, but they need to invest wisely to strengthen under the inevitable changes,” Drew Contessa NGP US Summit Director.


The good news for the pharmaceutical industry is that it may emerge as a winner in the healthcare reform battle as new customers enter the system and price protections remain in force.
IMS Health, the drug industry forecasting firm, reports that the global pharmaceutical industry will grow 4% to 6% in 2010, up to $825 billion.

It is not very often that the industries elite meet like this and it is clear that significant changes will be outlined as a result.
For more information www.ngpsummit.com

Gold Medal goes to Latin America

The week that the Olympics welcomed South America as its new home Telecom Heavy-weights announce key meeting in Panama


Latin America is predicted to be the strongest region of growth in 2010, Investment is flooding to the area and telecommunications is essential for the region to fulfill its potential. Backed by Government incentives and commercial opportunities figureheads such as Humberto Roca, CTO , Antel, Israel Madiedo, CTO, Cablevision , Claudio Bermudez, CTO Grupo ICE, Peter Jones, VP Technology, LIME , Miguel Angel Gray , Millicom International Cellular CEO Central America , Robert Masse, CTO Telefonica del Sur (Telsur) and Pedro Planas , CTO LA, Telefonica Media Networks SA have agreed to meet in Panama on November 10th this year at the illustrious NGT Summit to discuss technology investment to support market growth.

‘As Latin America continues its socio-economic Growth, development in ICT clearly sends out the right message to Global investors.’ Paul Southwell – NGT LA Summit Director

Massive investments in 3G has been highlighted as operators will start to see an increase in mobile application use and IPTV may finally take hold. The cost of voice services is at such a low point that voice alone is no longer a viable competitive advantage, operators must improve service levels and delivery methods in order to differentiate themselves from their competitors. Partnering with IDC and Pyramid Research the NGT Summit LA is set to outline the path to success in 2010.