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Lemons, or squeezed for resources? Information symmetry and asymmetric resources in biotechnology

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

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Authors

Oraiopoulos, Nektarios  ORCID logo  https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5517-4751
Drakeman, DL 

Abstract

Thousands of biotech companies are developing promising products, but have insufficient resources to complete the clinical testing process, while large, well-funded companies have increasingly focused on the need to access external innovation. As a result, licensing deals are an essential and growing part of this industry. Yet, casting a shadow over the licensing market is the classic Lemons Problem: Does asymmetrical information put licensees at a severe disadvantage, leading to a market dominated by inferior opportunities, with the best products retained for internal development? Our analysis of clinical stage products developed over three decades shows that there is no Lemons Problem. We discuss the results of this first apples-to-apples analysis of the biomedical licensing market, and suggest reasons why the Lemons Problem does not exist where it might be most expected – in a high technology, knowledge-based industry.

Description

Keywords

clinical trials design and analysis, drug development, in-licensing, information asymmetry, pharmaceutical industry

Journal Title

Frontiers in Pharmacology

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1663-9812
1663-9812

Volume Title

8

Publisher

Frontiers Media