NAPSR News: Abbvie Partners with Google’s Calico on R&D Venture for Age Related Diseases

WASHINGTON - Sept. 4, 2014 - PRLog -- The collaboration between Abbvie and Calico aims to focus on the research, development and marketing new therapies for patients with age-related diseases, including neurodegeneration and cancer. Abbvie and Calico will each provide an initial payment of $250 million to fund the collaboration with the potential for each company to contribute up to an additional $500 million. According to the agreement both parties will share costs and profits equally.

Calico is led by Arthur D. Levinson Ph.D. (former chairman and CEO of Genentech) and Hal V. Barron, M.D. (former Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Genentech) and will establish a world-class research and development facility to fuel drug discovery and early drug development. Abbvie plans to provide scientific expertise, clinical development, marketing and commercialization strategies for product launches.

"This collaboration demonstrates our commitment to exploring new areas of medicine and innovative approaches to drug discovery and development that augments our already robust pipeline," said Richard A. Gonzalez, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, AbbVie.  "We are pleased to be working with such outstanding scientists as Art Levinson, Hal Barron and their team.  The potential to help improve patients' lives with new therapies is enormous."

"Our relationship with AbbVie is a pivotal event for Calico, whose mission is to develop life-enhancing therapies for people with age-related diseases.  It will greatly accelerate our efforts to understand the science of aging, advance our clinical work, and help bring important new therapies to patients everywhere," said Art Levinson, CEO and founder of Calico.

"We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with the many outstanding scientists at AbbVie to ensure that the important science at Calico is advanced quickly to benefit patients," said Hal Barron, M.D., President of Research and Development at Calico.

"We are extremely proud to have our research teams partnering with Calico as we aim to address treatments for diseases of aging," said Michael Severino, M.D., Executive Vice President, Research and Development, and Chief Scientific Officer, AbbVie. "Our broad R&D experience and capabilities will complement Calico's biotechnology expertise and innovative scientific approaches. Together, we are confident that we will bring new therapeutic solutions to patients."

Google’s presence in the health sector has become increasingly significant as Google Glass is being investigated in various medical settings including its ability to transmit and display information for use in vital signs and medical history display. The company also collaborated with Novartis on smart contact lenses. With the Google deal in motion, Abbvie also had an impressive week as the company just announced a deal to acquire the rights to Infinity Pharmaceuticals’ blood cancer drug duvelisib.

Due to this collaboration, the development of these beneficial healthcare therapies will certainly add an impactful boost to the anti-aging market sector. This will without a doubt bolster the need for both certified and qualified individuals to promote their diversified product portfolio. When industry leaders look for new candidates for sales/marketing positions, they look toward individuals that are industry trained. Companies are looking for people that have the background to sell their product both proficiently and efficiently.

CANDIDATES WHO WANT TO BREAK INTO PHARMACEUTICAL SALES!

The CNPR is a federally trademarked certification you can earn by demonstrating the necessary knowledge in pharmacology, medical terminology, physiology, and regulations for selling pharmaceuticals. The CNPR examination is dedicated to increasing the professional level of NAPSR members and to developing meaningful and ethical standards fully accepted by both its members and members of the pharmaceutical community.

The CNPR® Program represents a level of industry achievement and a demonstrated knowledge of pharmacology, medical terminology, pharmaceutical selling guidelines, physician selling techniques and industry standards. Pharmaceutical sales candidates who have this training will differentiate themselves from other individuals looking for open positions. Upon successful completion of the training each student will receive the Certification Mark of the CNPR®. CNPR® graduates should immediately utilize the NAPSRx® Career Center to apply for pharmaceutical sales positions.

Individuals that are interested in becoming a Certified National Pharmaceutical Representative (CNPR) can contact the National Association of Pharmaceutical Sales Representatives(NAPSRx) for more information or visit the website at http://napsronline.org/.