Trial By Media — Another Cost For Biopharma To Calculate?

By Rob Wright, Chief Editor, Life Science Leader
Follow Me On Twitter @RfwrightLSL

This month’s cover feature began on Feb. 27, 2017. I remember it so specifically because it was on that day that I first met Joaquin Duato, vice chairman of the executive committee for Johnson & Johnson. He had just spoke at the Conference Forum’s 2018 R&D Leadership Summit, a private event primarily for senior-level R&D executives from mid to large biopharmaceutical companies, and afterward I went up to introduce myself. But as I approached, I could see he was in discomfort. So, before handing him my business card, I asked if he was OK. He assured he was, revealing he had recently hurt his back while playing tennis. But that pain didn’t prevent him from honoring his commitment as a speaker. Further, it didn’t preclude him from bending down, albeit gingerly, to fish out a business card from his well-worn briefcase. It was this exchange that eventually led to the article on how J&J approaches partnering, which you can read about on p. 22.