Nathan Vardi considers these deals some of Wall Street’s greatest trades
Industry’s success tied to BTK inhibitors and tyrosine kinase inhibitors
Origin Story of Imbruvica and Calquence
Imbruvica’s precursor initially considered worthless, sold in a larger deal
Robert Duggan, motivated by son’s cancer, invests in Pharmacyclics
Conflict and drama unfold, leading to Hamdy’s departure from Pharmacyclics
Business vs. Science: Conflict and Collaboration
Conflict between profit (business) and improving lives (science) underlies the story
Vardi explores interpersonal conflicts and investors’ impact on biotech startups
Wayne Rothbaum funds Acerta Pharma, enforces stealth mode and scientific involvement
Vardi raises questions about the role of startups in the pharmaceutical industry and examines if small-scale startups genuinely contribute to medical progress
Impact on Medical Professionals
Vardi discusses physician-scientists’ roles in drug development and administration and their feelings of being shortchanged by corporate megadeals
Financial gains often favor capital over labor, even in drug development