Challenge:
A leading U.S. children’s hospital commissioned an independent review of a novel therapeutic approach for rare neonatal diseases. The principal investigator (PI) - a highly regarded, research-active neonatologist - had developed a method for using a well-known compound in the treatment of conditions such as congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).
The hospital sought to understand:
- whether a viable commercial pathway existed, and
- what the optimal strategy for development and exploitation would be if such a pathway were confirmed.
Solution
Alacrita assembled a cross-functional expert team to evaluate the opportunity. One of our specialist consultants - a former neonatologist at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital with subsequent experience in drug development, biotech leadership, and R&D support services - led the effort. He was joined by a Managing Partner at Alacrita and a respiratory drug delivery expert.
The team reviewed preclinical data, including in vivo studies in neonatal lamb models, and assessed proposed development plans. They conducted a commercial landscape analysis to evaluate market potential and identify viable licensing partners.
While the niche nature of neonatal therapeutics meant the pool of potential partners was small, the team concluded there was a justifiable commercial opportunity. Alacrita provided targeted recommendations to strengthen the asset’s partnerability and increase its attractiveness to specialized licensors.
Outcome
The assessment concluded that the therapy had promising commercial potential within its highly specialized domain. Alacrita delivered a roadmap of value-adding activities to enhance the likelihood of out-licensing success and provided strategic guidance on navigating development and partnering pathways.
More About Our Opportunity Mapping Services
Alacrita supports academic and clinical innovators by evaluating the commercial potential of novel therapies and technologies. Through our opportunity mapping services, we help clients determine whether a viable path to market exists - and how best to pursue it.
By combining domain expertise with rigorous market and scientific analysis, we identify value-driving development steps and provide actionable recommendations to improve partnerability and investment appeal.