Strategic Decision Making in Life Science Ventures (15.363)

About the Class

Faculty

Surveys key strategic decisions faced by managers, investors and scientists at each stage in the value chain of the life science industry. Aims to develop students' ability to understand and effectively assess these strategic challenges. Focuses on the biotech sector, with additional examples from the digital health and precision medicine industries. Includes case studies, analytical models, and detailed quantitative analysis. Intended for students interested in building a life science company or working in the sector as a manager, consultant, analyst, or investor. Provides analytical background to the industry for biological and biomedical scientists, engineers and physicians with an interest in understanding the commercial dynamics of the life sciences or the commercial potential of their research.

Andrey Zarur

Andrey Zarur is a Senior Lecturer in the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship. Zarur is the founder and CEO of GreenLight Biosciences, a diversified biotechnology company developing RNA based solutions for human, animal, and plant health applications. He is also a cofounder and chairman of the board of Solid Biosciences, a biotechnology company focused on bringing therapies to market for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Previously, Zarur was the managing partner at Kodiak Venture Partners (KVP), a venture capital firm specializing in formation stage information and life technology investments. He has been active in early stage life sciences companies for over 15 years, and has actively participated in the creation of over a dozen companies in the healthcare and clean energy sectors. Zarur holds has authored over 100 patents and numerous peer-reviewed articles. He has been a member of the World Economic Forum Global Council in Biotechnology and was named a Young Global Leader by the WEF. Zarur holds undergraduate degrees from the National University of Mexico and an SM and a PhD in chemical engineering from MIT.

Jonathan Fleming

Jonathan J. Fleming has been founding, financing and operating breakthrough life science companies for over 30 years in the USA, Europe, Asia, and the MIddle East. During his career he has raised more than $1 billion for early stage investment funds that made more than 200 investments resulting in over 20 IPOs and 40 M&A events. Fleming has been the CEO of a neuroscience company, been the chairman of the board of numerous companies, and been a director of many public and private companies. He has participated in the creation of numerous companies and has worked with seven different Nobel laureates to creat and build companies based upon their work. Fleming has been a senior lecturer at the Sloan School since 2002. He has an MPA from Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School and a BA from the University of California, Berkeley.