Scientific due diligence is the process of deciding if a new technology, drug, or idea makes sense from a scientific point of view. It’s not simply saying “yes invest”, or “no, stay away” – that decision involves many more factors involving both monetary considerations and investor preferences. But if the science doesn’t work, then a company based on that science will not succeed, and this is what we aim to help with.

Scientific due diligence boils down to four main sections.

1. What is the idea, the technology? How does it work mechanistically? We can help both experts and newcomers to the field to understand the underlying principles.
2. What support is there that this actually works? Can we look at the preclinical data, in cell or animal models? How do the results from the clinical trials look? Any serious side effects? Are other groups suggesting ideas? (yes? that’s both good – independent verification of the basic idea, and bad – more competition!).
3. Is there protection of the intellectual property? Are there appropriate patents in place?
4. Can it make money? What is the market size? Will it be increasing or decreasing over time? Can it support the sort of investment that is required to get a biotech idea to market?
5. Are the company’s and Teams claims accurate, supportable or provable?

Correctly understanding and valuing an idea requires examining each of these stages. If you are interested in our analytical ability for your business or investment prospects, let us know.