In case you missed it, an article appeared Tuesday in the Indianapolis Business Journal raising concerns about the newly unveiled Indiana Biosciences Research Institute. The article compares the creation of IBRI to an institute that formed in Michigan in 1981. The Michigan Biotechnology Institute failed to meet its goals, which generated pessimism about IBRI in the IBJ article.

The article cites Jack Pincus, a life sciences consultant in Indianapolis who was vice president of business development for the Michigan institute from 1986 to 1992. Mr. Pincus says he is skeptical of IBRI’s potential to follow through on its goals. Some of the challenges and comparisons raised in the article need to be addressed.

Comparing IBRI to an institution that formed more than three decades ago is an unfair juxtaposition. We believe, as does any industry worth its salt, that innovation and learning advance over time. A good example is Henry Ford. The well-known inventor of the innovative assembly line, in fact, failed several times before he founded the successful Ford Motor Company.  Fortunately, automobiles — along with other technology, knowledge and infrastructure — have advanced since 1981. Likewise, our understanding and capabilities around creating biosciences institutes are better today than they were in 1982...

Leaders from several Indiana companies, universities and state government – including Governor Mike Pence – unveiled the creation of the Indiana Biosciences Research Institute this morning during a press conference at our headquarters in Indianapolis. The institute will break down silos and catapult Indiana into a true leadership role among life sciences hubs.

According to Bart Peterson, who oversees corporate affairs at Lilly, “The Institute will help us nurture our partnerships across the country and develop more intellectual capital here in Indiana — allowing us to keep more research dollars in the state, attract more federal research funds, and draw top scientific minds to feed our research pipeline and local economies.”

You can read more about the initiative in the IBRI press release and Lilly's statement...

Last week, our CEO, John Lechleiter, wrote about the scourge that is Alzheimer's disease in Forbes. The blog speaks for itself, but there are a few important data points worth noting:

• Dementia now costs the U.S. alone up to $215 billion a year in medical care and other costs.
• According to the Alzheimer's Association, more than 5 million Americans are affected by Alzheimer's. That includes 1 of every 8 Americans 65 and older.
• By 2050, 16 million Americans likely will have Alzheimer's, and costs in the U.S. could surpass $1 trillion.

The fact that Alzheimer's is an emerging health crisis is no big surprise...

Two years ago, Lilly and Disney Publishing Worldwide joined forces on a program that provides resources to families of children with diabetes. 

Now, the program is going global.

Lilly and Disney Publishing Worldwide announced today that the program is being expanded to 18 more countries, with books being translated and made available for children at various stages of diabetes...

Chuck Pagano can coach some football.  We learned today that he can also bring a group of pharmaceutical employees to the verge of tears with his messages of inspiration.

As a Colts season-ticket holder, it was a thrill to see the Indianapolis head coach on stage talking to colleagues and peers from around the country on the final day of PhRMA's annual meeting. It was an even bigger thrill to see him looking so well.  The story, in case you haven't heard, is a fascinating one.  Pagano was in his first year as coach of the Colts when he was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia on September 26 last year.  Over the course of three months, he underwent aggressive treatment with chemotherapy.  By December 30, he was back on the field for his team's final game of the regular season against the Houston Texans.

Pagano was invited to speak by PhRMA to provide inspiration and encouragement to the people who are working to discover life-saving medicines -- and he made some important analogies between football and medical innovation...