Deerfield Management and the University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy Launch Biotherapeutics Certificate Program Bridging Academia and Industry

News provided by

Oct 08, 2024, 08:00 ET

Inaugural "Molecules to Market" cohort to commence coursework in February 2025
Program content developed and taught by industry professionals at Deerfield in collaboration with academic experts at UNC-Chapel Hill

NEW YORK, Oct. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Deerfield Management and the nation's No. 1 school of pharmacy, the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, are pleased to announce the launch of an innovative certificate program for students, postdoctoral fellows, and professionals in biotherapeutics.

Titled "Molecules to Market," this certificate program aims to bridge the gap between industry and academia by teaching participants the business fundamentals required for translating scientific discoveries into commercial products with potential to improve human health. Multidisciplinary courses developed and taught by experienced researchers and drug developers at Deerfield and UNC-Chapel Hill illuminate the complex path to successful commercialization of a scientific idea. Courses include:

Translational Science
Fundamentals of Regulatory Affairs
Fundamentals of Biotherapeutic Market Analysis
Business Planning for Biotherapeutics
Preclinical Development
Clinical Development

Admission to the certificate program will be available to advanced undergraduate and graduate students, postdocs, and faculty and industry professionals who wish to learn more about the business behind developing a new medicine. Interested participants can enroll in any one of the available courses to earn an individual "microcredential" or opt to complete all program requirements to earn the full certificate.

"The Molecules to Market certificate program is a rigorous, rewarding introduction to biotechnology taught by specialists with experience along the road from lab bench to pharmacy shelf," commented Associate Professor and Assistant Dean Mike Jarstfer, PhD, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. "The program is designed to provide aspiring entrepreneurs and industry professionals with a strong foundation for success."

"For the past four years, Deerfield has partnered with UNC-Chapel Hill to advance promising technologies from academic to industrial settings. We are excited to now offer this expansive, accessible introduction to the world of drug development, which we hope will contribute to many other successfully marketed innovations in the future," commented James Flynn, Deerfield's Managing Partner.

The certificate program is designed to help students:

Explain key scientific and safety variables that affect the success of a scientific idea
Explain key intellectual property, regulatory, and clinical tractability concerns that determine the developability of a scientific idea
Relate key market and commercial variables that affect the success of a scientific idea
Communicate the scientific rationale, path to market, and findings from market analysis to key stakeholders

Interested participants are invited to visit the program's website for additional information.

ABOUT DEERFIELD MANAGEMENT

Deerfield is an investment management firm committed to advancing healthcare through investment, information, and philanthropy. The Firm works across the healthcare ecosystem to connect people, capital, ideas, and technology in bold, collaborative, and inclusive ways. For more information, please visit www.deerfield.com.

Deerfield has not received or provided any cash or non-cash compensation in exchange for the statements in this press release. UNC has received funding and in-kind contributions from Deerfield in connection with the development of the certificate program. Deerfield and UNC also have a research collaboration. As a result of these relationships, UNC and the abovenamed individual may have an incentive to provide positive statements about Deerfield. Neither UNC nor the abovenamed individual have a financial interest in any Deerfield investment vehicles.

Media Contact: Jessica Sagers, [email protected]

SOURCE Deerfield Management Company, L.P.