OPIM 5894 ADVANCED PROJECT MANAGEMENTVERTEX PHARMACEUTICALS CASE

Team 2

April 5, 2012

http://users.business.uconn.edu/snair/opim5894.html

Team 2 - Vertex Pharmaceuticals case2

Issues Raised Drug development issues – selecting a portfolio

of products In-house versus Licensing issues Types of risks – Target risk, Mechanism risk,

Molecule risk, Market risk Real options analysis

Team 2 - Vertex Pharmaceuticals case3

Which of the 4 project portfolio options currently facing Vertex do you favor? VX-148: least scientific sizzle (IMPDH is a ‘validated target’; Vertex

wants breakthroughs), already similar drugs on market, 2.7 million people affected by psoriasis, quick to market (2007), advanced development (phase II), least remaining development costs ($100MM), good success probability, low sales

VX-702: might not be covered by insurance, possible toxicity issues, advanced development (phase IIa), low probability of success, late to market (2009), many attempts by competitors have failed, moderate remaining development costs ($300MM), good profit margin, moderate profits, cheap and easy to make, moderate projected sales

VX-765: high manufacturing cost, high remaining development cost ($600MM), early in development (preclinical), moderate success probability, pralnacasan deal with Aventis, oral not injection, good anti-inflammatory drug has high potential, relatively quick to market (2008), good profit margin, good projected sales

VX-950: complex and costly, early in development (preclinical), late to market (2009), low remaining development costs ($220MM), high probability of success, low profit margin, moderate sales

Team 2 - Vertex Pharmaceuticals case4

Which of the 4 project portfolio options currently facing Vertex do you favor?

Our favorite is VX-765 to treat Rheumatoid Arthritis

and Osteoarthritis

Team 2 - Vertex Pharmaceuticals case5

Specifically, which two projects would you advance in development? Why? Show analysis. VX-765 VX-950

Team 2 - Vertex Pharmaceuticals case6

Criteria VX 148 VX 702 VX 765 VX 950

Sales Potential 2.5 7.75 10 5.25Financial Return 8.5 6.25 4 6Risk 5 2 4 5Time to market 9 7 5 5Wall Street Reaction 5 6 7 8Breadth of Potential Applications 4.75 2 9 6Follow-on opportunities 3 4 8 4SUM (select the two highest) 37.75 35 47 39.25Probability of success .38 .35 .47 .39Probability of two being successful .133 .1833 Probability of two failing .403 .3233

Team 2 - Vertex Pharmaceuticals case7

Would you license out the two others not chosen or keep them as backup? The license option is advantageous to a small

firm in a rapidly changing market. Licensing Would increase cash flow which would allow completion of the chosen projects. This may be difficult to negotiate.

Team 2 - Vertex Pharmaceuticals case8

How much should Vertex management rely on quantitative methodologies (such as real option valuation) versus more qualitative approaches? ROV is best for late-stage development compounds, but

it doesn’t handle early-stage development compounds well

Vertex should rely more on ROV and less on qualitative approaches if late-stage decisions need to be made; the advantage of ROV making predictions in an uncertain environment is maximized because the uncertainties are fewer in late-stage decisions

ROV is good for starting discussions, but it is relative and not absolute; very dependent on input assumptions and choices

Vertex should rely more on qualitative approaches and less on ROV for long-term strategic analyses and early-stage development compound decisions