The exploitation of the European science base in the gene therapy - bridging the "commercialisation gap"

Información del proyecto

Identificador del acuerdo de subvención: BIO4980380

Proyecto cerrado

Fecha de inicio 1 Septiembre 1998

Fecha de finalización 31 Agosto 2000

Financiado con arreglo a

• Specific research, technological development and demonstration programme in the field of biotechnology, 1994-1998

Coste total

Sin datos

Aportación de la UE

Sin datos

Coordinado por

UNIVERSITY OF SUSSEX
United Kingdom

Objetivo

This project is designed to assess the current competitiveness of Europe's gene therapy industry, examine the extent to which the European science base in this area is being industrially exploited and suggest how public policy might help overcome the main barriers to the commercialisation of gene therapy research in Europe.
Gene therapy promises to be one of the most important developments in medicine during the next decade. It is a radical new technology which uses DNA as a therapeutic agent to either correct the genetic defects that cause a particular illness, or to help restore normal functions to diseased cells. Already the first clinical trials have indicated that gene therapy techniques might be successfully used to treat not only genetic disorders, such as Cystic Fibrosis, but also some of the most important and intractable non-genetic diseases, ranging from AIDS to cancer.
In 1996 an EC supported project, 'The Development of Gene Therapy in Europe and the United States: A Comparative Analysis' found that the key difference between Europe and the US was the extent to which this important new technology was being industrially exploited. In particular, the authors identified the existence of a 'commercialisation gap' between academia and industry in Europe. Overall Europe had a strong and competitive science base in gene therapy, but the commercial potential of this research was not being fully realized.
These earlier findings established a clear agenda for further research rather than analysing why this European 'commercialisation gap' existed. As a consequence there is a pressing need to explore this issue in more detail. The objectives of the project are therefore to:
1. Update the previous study by assessing the current competitiveness of the European gene therapy industry compared to the US and examining if it is catching-up or falling behind;
2. Examine the extent to which the European science base related to gene therapy is being commercially exploited and analyse the main barriers preventing the effective transfer of technology from academia to industry; 3. Describe the current initiatives that are being taken by European governments to stimulate the exploitation of the science base in gene therapy and suggest how public policy might be used to bridge the commercialisation gap.
The work programme follows directly from these three goals and will be divided-up into the following activities:
- Review of the gene therapy industry in Europe and the US;
- Survey of the scientific members of the European Working Group on Human Gene Transfer and Therapy;
- Telephone interviews with a sample of European scientists working with industry;
- Interviews with European firms working on gene therapy;
- Review of public European programmes promoting gene therapy and the exploitation of the science base.
The study will conclude by making a judgement about the relative success or failure of the various policies adopted by different countries to commercialize gene therapy. Recommendations will be made aimed at improving the exploitation of the science base in gene therapy and other novel biotechnologies throughout Europe.

Ámbito científico (EuroSciVoc)

• ciencias sociales › ciencias políticas › normativa política › política pública
• ciencias médicas y de la salud › biotecnología médica › ingeniería genética › terapia génica
• ciencias naturales › ciencias biológicas › genética › ADN
• ciencias médicas y de la salud › ciencias de la salud › enfermedad infecciosa › virus de ARN › VIH
• ciencias médicas y de la salud › medicina clínica › oncología

Programa(s)

• FP4-BIOTECH 2 - Specific research, technological development and demonstration programme in the field of biotechnology, 1994-1998

Tema(s)

• 0903 - Socio-economic impacts

Convocatoria de propuestas

Datos no disponibles

Régimen de financiación

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinador

UNIVERSITY OF SUSSEX

• Aportación de la UE: Sin datos
• Dirección: Mantell Building ; BN1 9RF Falmer - Brighton ; Reino Unido
• Coste total: Sin datos

Participantes (1)

FRAUNHOFER-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FOERDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG E.V.

Alemania

• Aportación de la UE: Sin datos
• Dirección: Breslauer Strasse 48 ; 76139 Karlsruhe
• Coste total: Sin datos