Page 198 - HBR's 10 Must Reads 20180 - The Definitive Management Ideas of the Year from Harvard Business Review

THE EDISON OF MEDICINE

Although the lab’s researchers often have a use in mind, some-
times they envision a variety of applications. For example, Langer
got the idea for an implantable microchip that could release drugs
for years and could be controlled outside the body while watching
a television show on semiconductors; he imagined that chips could
not only be used to deliver drugs but also put into TVs to release
scents that would enhance the viewing experience.

Obtain a broad patent
MIT has been a pioneer in patenting and licensing academic discov-
eries. But Langer has been exceptional in his pursuit of especially
strong patents. His goal is to limit, sometimes even block, others
from claiming rights to the territory so that companies will be will-
ing to expend the money needed to commercialize a discovery—an
investment that must typically cover expensive clinical trials and
that greatly exceeds the cost of the research. (Some of Langer’s
secrets: Use “great lawyers” and have them challenge one another’s
recommendations; eliminate unnecessary words that could restrict
a claim; and clearly describe all the terms and supporting experi-
mental tests to prevent ambiguity if the patent is litigated.)

Publish a seminal article in a prestigious journal
Appearing in a journal such as Nature or Science validates—and
advertises—the soundness and importance of the discovery not just
to other academics but also to potential business investors.

Prove the concept in animal studies, and don’t push the discovery
out of the lab too quickly
The reason is twofold: to boost the odds that the discovery will work and
to minimize the chances that commercialization efforts will flounder—
a common occurrence in universities and even the corporate world.
One recent example of a project that benefited from a measured
timetable involved the use of ultrasound to rapidly deliver a broad
class of therapeutics, including small molecules, macromolecule
biologics, and nucleic acids, directly to the gastrointestinal tract
(they previously had to be injected). Despite promising initial results

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