• All of the questions will be in essay format.
• I encourage everyone to answer the questions completely but succinctly
• All of the answers should be your own work…do not copy from others!
• Please cite references where needed (see the instruction slides for more details)

Question 1:As biotech companies grow they struggle with a highly competitive industry landscape and a challenging regulatory and commercialization environment.

1. Provide the definitions of a merger and an acquisition in the context of the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry
2. Provide two advantages and disadvantages of each a merger and an acquisition with an example for each.
3. Describe two benefits of a strategic collaboration between academia and pharma/biotechnology.

Question 2: Dr. Balachander covered the topics of licenses, alliances and mergers. Within that context please address the following…

1. Define what it means to “license” a technology?
2. Provide examples of two different types of licenses.
3. What gives the University Technology Transfer Office the right to license a technology?
4. What is the difference between and alliance and a partnership?

Question 3: The battle to own the CRISPR has exposed the failings of some part of the intellectual property infrastructure in the US. Within that context please answer the following questions…

1. What is the CRIPR technology and how is it use?
2. On March 16, 2013 the USPTO switched from “first to invent” to “first to file.
   1. Please describe what that changes means to those that wish to file a patent?
   2. How did that impact the CRISPR technology ownership?
3. Who owns the technology now?
4. If you would like to secure a license to use the CRISPR technology, who do you need to contact?