The development of a start-up company in pharmaceuticals-a personal experience

Summary form only given. A new venture is often the result of the association of people with complementary experience who wish to exploit a new idea, patent or the results of a clinical trial. The entrepreneur is thereafter faced with an adventure not unlike Christopher Columbus setting out into the unknown. The author describes the strategy used to build-up the company, including the methods used to increase its available capital, staff and to develop R&D collaborations, all with the aim of attracting venture capital as well as high calibre personnel and potential partners in the pharmaceutical field. Examples of personal experience are used to illustrate the problems and their solutions, and a general model is proposed for success with a start-up company.