Year: 2008-09

Company: Life Technologies

Liaison(s): Vicki Singer

Life Technologies, is a global biotechnology firm that provides its customers with tools for bioscience research, personalized medicine, regenerative science, molecular diagnostics, agricultural and environmental research, and advanced forensics. With the acquisition of Quantum Dot Corporation in 2005, Life Technologies is now exploring the possibility of using quantum dots (QDs) as reagents in sentinel lymph node mapping (SLNM) procedures. The overall goal of this TMP is to perform a market assessment of quantum dots for SLNM and formulate a strategy for commercializing the technology. The market assessment consists of determining the current market for SLNM, reviewing the current SLNM procedure and the drivers for pricing, conducting primary research to determine the factors most likely to encourage adoption of the new procedure, and determining the value added by this technology from a clinical standpoint. In addition, the project involves exploring the FDA barriers for launching such a technology. The final deliverable is a business case for the potential value of incorporating the new technology into the SLNM procedure. In producing this final deliverable, we conducted detailed interviews with surgeons, radiologists, and pathologists currently involved with the SLNM procedure, and distributed a broad quantitative internet survey to a large list of oncology surgeons. In addition, we interacted with hospital administrators for cost and reimbursement data and with Life Technologies staff for general technological and marketing information. We used this data to create a foundation for Life Technologies to use as a basis for assessing whether to proceed with development of this SLNM technology.