Redesigning pharmaceutical R&D landscape for post-COVID-19 economy
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The College of Management of Technology is proud to contribute again to the launch of a new platform within the Enterprise for Society Center, connecting researchers of the 3 partenering institutions (UNIL-HEC, IMD and EPFL).
In this platform, CDM Faculty member Prof. Dominique Foray explores (with UNIL colleague Prof. Annamaria Conti and IMD Prof. Goutam Challagalla) the pharmaceutical R&D landscape for the post-COVID-19 economy.
Since the creation of the Center, faculty members of the College have been very active in participating to the research platforms, which aim at associating world-class researchers to produce knowledge and expertise with a direct impact on the local and national economy.
To this day, close to 50% of the platforms include a faculty member of the College of Management of Technology, namely:
- Prof. Dominique Foray: Redesigning the pharmaceutical R&D landscape for the post-COVID-19 economy platform
- Prof. Thomas Weber and Prof. Dominique Foray: Shaping the future of work platform
- Prof. Gaétan de Rassenfosse: Evidence-Base Environmental Policy Advice platform
- Prof. Ruediger Fahlenbrach: Systemic Risks and Sustainability platform
Abstract of the last added platform
Redesigning the pharmaceutical R&D landscape for the post-COVID-19 economy
We examine the circumstances under which the blueprint of a coronavirus-type vaccine failed to be developed before the outbreak of the crisis. The examination of such a missed opportunity and the potential institutional framework under which a repetition could be avoided should deliver insights on the more general question of the financing of costly medications for rare conditions. Providing the right incentives and subsidies to pharmaceutical firms to invest in vaccines, drugs and diagnostics is essential both in normal, pre-pandemic times, and in the current situation.
We propose to develop a taxonomy of pharmaceutical firms and identify those that are more likely to engage – as well as those more likely to succeed – in the creation of vaccines, drugs and diagnostics for COVID-19. Assessing the distribution of research efforts between small firms, large firms and universities can provide important – and urgently needed – insights into the design of policies to incentivize and support pharmaceutical innovation to fight against COVID-19 and other diseases.
UNIL, Annamaria Conti
IMD, Goutam Challagalla
EPFL - CDM, Dominique Foray, Patrick Gaulé