Do you have enough information about biotechs?

[Jikx]

Hello all,

I'm part of the a young achievers (www.yaa.org.au). Basically, a group of university student must set up a company and attempt to commercialise, including design, produce and market, a product. I am currently trying to develop a product for which to sell.

What I plan to do is profile of all 82 Biotech companies that are part of the Intersuisse Biotechnology Index, and compile it into a sort of database/website to be distributed via CD. In order not to fall foul of the corporations act, the information will revolve around the science and technology of the companies as opposed to cash flows, probability of success etc.

Basic features:

1. Interviews with some of the biotech companies
2. Current/Planned products
3. Background on how such products work
4. Overview on the research field for companies (eg diabetes, heart disease)
5. Reverse searching based on field (eg find companies that work in diabetes)
6. Reverse searching based on technology (eg find companies that use antibodies

I would like your opinion. Despite such a product not having any financial information nor technical graphs to go by, would you be interested in purchasing such a product?

Thanks!

 

[stoxclimber]

I don't think this product is a good idea for a YAA group. Especially considering that you guys probably don't have the expertise in such a field, so the product will essentially be a rehash of company annoucements

 

[Jikx]

Sorry, I forgot to mention we are part of the Biotechnology division of YAA, and we all have at least a honours/masters degree in the field.

 

[Jikx]

No one with other opinions or thoughts?

 

[spooly74]

No one with other opinions or thoughts?

Hi Jikx,

Do you plan to include a relative "timeline" for successful Biotech companies?

I understand that the time taken for some companies to go from lab tests to human trials can vary greatly.
I was wondering if this time taken can be viewed as a measure of success in it`s own right
For instance, is there an average time for companies to get to the human trials stage from initial lab tests? .... or, is this timeframe irrelevant due to the complexity of the products?

cheers

 

[Jikx]

Do you plan to include a relative "timeline" for successful Biotech companies?

I understand that the time taken for some companies to go from lab tests to human trials can vary greatly.
I was wondering if this time taken can be viewed as a measure of success in it`s own right
For instance, is there an average time for companies to get to the human trials stage from initial lab tests? .... or, is this timeframe irrelevant due to the complexity of the products?

cheers

Yes, idea's like this! This is a very good idea, and we probably will insert a time line (for example when first patented, through the different phases of development and to market).

Time frame is very relevant, I suppose long delays imply that the science/technology behind the product was not yet mature. Therefore, you as investors, are paying for the initial research!

I like this, I'll definitely ask my group to do this. Thanks spooly!

 

[marklar]

I would like your opinion. Despite such a product not having any financial information nor technical graphs to go by, would you be interested in purchasing such a product?

Hi Jikx,

I feel like I have "some" information on biotechs, I'm a reasonably well educated individual and can usually glean some sort of understanding of the technology involved. I don't rely on this information alone before deciding to invest and I very much doubt I'd pay for a product of the type you are describing.

m.

 

[disarray]

is it a one off release or will it be updated? if its updated can the updates be downloaded? if there are updates will it be subscription based or a one off cost?

 

[Julia]

It sounds like an interesting project from your point of view, but I'm with Stoxclimber in terms of its commercial application.

With the greatest of respect towards your Honours etc Degrees, people who are buying something for business reasons are going to be looking for a product from someone with relevant experience in business.

Perhaps if you could combine your efforts with such a group of people it could work. Personally, I wouldn't be a buyer because I am not interested in biotechs. Too much can go wrong.

Good luck.

 

[Jikx]

is it a one off release or will it be updated? if its updated can the updates be downloaded? if there are updates will it be subscription based or a one off cost?

From what I'm planning, it will be a once off release, and hopefully someone will buy the whole project off us. But failing that, it will probably be put on the internet as a wiki site, so you the community can update it if you so wish, with me doing so in my spare time.

With the greatest of respect towards your Honours etc Degrees, people who are buying something for business reasons are going to be looking for a product from someone with relevant experience in business.

Perhaps if you could combine your efforts with such a group of people it could work. Personally, I wouldn't be a buyer because I am not interested in biotechs. Too much can go wrong.

I've been thinking about this. Perhaps it would be prudent that we change the scope of the project. While the "science and technology" section will still be a significant part, perhaps we should add more of a commercial aspect to it. The target - small time investors, who may be afraid of Biotechs because it's so different to normal "blue-chip" stocks risk/reward wise.


So for example, if we obtain:

> Interviews with brokers that specialise in biotechs, and their views on what to look for in biotechnology stocks

> Interviews with company directors, describing what was the difficult aspects during start up, future aspirations etc

> Interviews with Biotech accounting auditors, what are the greatest risks from biotechs, how they fail, how they succeed

> Segregation of Biotech companies into "start-ups", "technology confirmed", and "mature"

> General descriptions and FAQs about the share market, how to read financial data

Would add more weight, and value to this product?

 

[stoxclimber]

Hey Jikx,

The idea doesn't sound too bad now that you have told me about your qualifications etc., however, I have the following suggestions/issues:

#1. For a project of this size I would strongly recommend you source the demand [and actually sign people on to buy] before putting hours and hours into this project and finding out that the demand wasn't what you expected.
#2. In my opinion this project is not really in the spirit of the YAA competition, which is predominantly buy bulk/resell individual at markup, alternatively manufacture of a good - provision of a service [which this essentially is] probably wouldn't be looked upon too favourably by the powers that be [since e.g. high school students couldn't make the same project].
#3. A lot of the information which you seek to obtain (e.g. interviews) may be quite difficult to obtain.


However, my suggestion as to the format would be something like a 1 page summary for each ASX listed biotech with further information in an appendix

One page summary would have company profile, timeline to cashflows, specific risks and a concise financial statement. Professional formatting would be very important in approving the appearance of quality.


These are just my suggestions, I don't have any authority to give them but you may find them useful.

 

[Jikx]

Thanks for all your suggestions.

I think its true, the demand for such a product is not there. Although, at a selling price of $9.95 for a list of Australia's top 80 biotech companies, with basic information about their products, science behind them, with links to the ASX page for up to date info, might be enough to encourage some impulse buying.

The other alternatives projects are not exactly stellar on commercial grounds either.

I've made a very basic test site to highlight how our product could be like:

http://cyanceplus.wikidot.com

I'm actually thinking of trying to sell sponsorship to broker firms, and return we will sell to the general public at cost price.

 

[Julia]

Thanks for all your suggestions.

I think its true, the demand for such a product is not there. Although, at a selling price of $9.95 for a list of Australia's top 80 biotech companies, with basic information about their products, science behind them, with links to the ASX page for up to date info, might be enough to encourage some impulse buying.

The other alternatives projects are not exactly stellar on commercial grounds either.

I've made a very basic test site to highlight how our product could be like:

http://cyanceplus.wikidot.com

I'm actually thinking of trying to sell sponsorship to broker firms, and return we will sell to the general public at cost price.

Jikx, I've had a quick look at your site and found it interesting. If I were interested in buying biotechs I'd definitely consider buying your product.
I'm no marketing expert, but the price you suggest is very cheap, perhaps too cheap? Most of us tend to place minimal value on something we don't have to pay much for. Maybe double it?

Good on you for the work you're putting into it.

 

[stoxclimber]

Price is way too cheap IMO. How good can it be if you are selling it for 9.95? At least $30bux (and give some free extracts)

 

[Gurgler]

As an investor with a small biotech portfolio, I'd be interested in such a product, but tend to agree that $9.95 may not reflect the real end-value of your product. Is your product one-off or more likely to evolve into a subscription? This may be relevant.

I'm not quite clear - will this be the price of an initial CD; how regularly will it be updated?

 

[Julia]

Jikz

It looks as though someone may have beaten you to it.

 

[Jikx]

Damn you Bioshares!

There will be a big difference between Bioshares and our product. They will actually give you indepth information about a select few companies, more to do with financials and cash flows etc etc..

Ours will be much broader (more product /technology focus), cover more companies (planning on 82!), with lots of interviews with analysts, commercialization bodies and the like so YOU can look into more depth (and to prevent us from running foul of the corporations act).

This product will be once off (hence the lower price, like $30 unlike the $300+ charged by bioshares), and if no company buys it off us at the end of it, we will probably take it online with a small subscription fee for access and keep it updated.

It's an unfortunate aspect of the young achievers program, we must wrap it up. Assuming we do well, and no-one else purchases it, I may buy out the product idea and keep it updated myself!