It’s been a markedly upbeat atmosphere at the JP Morgan Healthcare conference this year. The uncharacteristically sunny, warm weather reflected a shift in outlook from the angst and unease that has hung over the conference for the past few years as investors and C-level executives across the life science industry braced themselves for the impact of the Affordable Care Act. The Twitter chat not only from the main event, but also the Biotech Showcase and OneMedForum, reflected the buzz of so many aspects of the healthcare industry concentrated in one square mile for four days. From biotech-themed chat up lines to compelling insights, here’s a collection of some of the more memorable tweets.
It’s not the size of your data, it’s how you use it. #JPMPickuplines #JPM14 @rleuty_biotech
— Genentech (@genentech) January 14, 2014
CEO alnylam wearing Nike Fitband. Lilly Lechleiter wears one cause he in on board of Nike. Want to be big pharma? Emulate big pharma #JPM14
— Rob Wright (@RfwrightLSL) January 13, 2014
@athenahealth Jonathan Bush – the amt of coolness & integration in 2014 is extremely high. Painful, expensive, emotional, worth it. #JPM14
— Jonathan (@McEuen) January 15, 2014
A Deep-dive Into Specialty Pharma
A specialty drug is a class of prescription medications used to treat complex, chronic or rare medical conditions. Although this classification was originally intended to define the treatment of rare, also termed “orphan” diseases, affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the US, more recently, specialty drugs have emerged as the cornerstone of treatment for chronic and complex diseases such as cancer, autoimmune conditions, diabetes, hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS.
The VCs that have survived the shakeout have gotten very sophisticated and elegant with their investing strategies. Very impressed. #JPM14
— David Steinberg (@DavidASteinberg) January 16, 2014
Cigna CEO says its very possible they lose money on exchange plans in 2014, but won’t stop them from selling. Still “early innings.” #jpm14
— Sarah Kliff (@sarahkliff) January 14, 2014
Paul Hastings of Oncomed says at #BTS14 that the company raised more money from partnership deals than IPO and VC.
— Mandy Jackson (@ScripMandy) January 13, 2014
Less traditional financing like venture debt, royalty plays, angels mean more options. “Everything is on the table.” — Alex Zisson #BTS14
— BioWorld Today (@BioWorld) January 13, 2014
I don’t think people understand that digital health will create an enormous cultural shift in how we think about health information. #JPM14
— Leslie Saxon, MD (@DrLeslieSaxon) January 13, 2014
Most interesting quote I’ve heard at #JPM14 – “there are a lot of companies that torture the data until it confesses something”
— Dan Budwick (@DanBudwick) January 14, 2014
