thank you very much it’s a real pleasure to be here at George school but now I’m
to be here at George school but now I’m
to be here at George school but now I’m paraphrasing but i was told that
paraphrasing but i was told that
paraphrasing but i was told that innovators and insane people are similar
innovators and insane people are similar
innovators and insane people are similar have a lot in common and that’s because
have a lot in common and that’s because
have a lot in common and that’s because they both see things that don’t exist so
they both see things that don’t exist so
they both see things that don’t exist so of course in the case of in the case of
of course in the case of in the case of
of course in the case of in the case of innovators it’s assumed that those
innovators it’s assumed that those
innovators it’s assumed that those delusions obviously will some they
delusions obviously will some they
delusions obviously will some they become reality but um this gives me a
become reality but um this gives me a
become reality but um this gives me a reason to talk a little bit about
reason to talk a little bit about
reason to talk a little bit about innovation and and how important it is
innovation and and how important it is
innovation and and how important it is because obviously it goes without saying
because obviously it goes without saying
because obviously it goes without saying innovation is critical to some
innovation is critical to some
innovation is critical to some civilization civilization depends on it
civilization civilization depends on it
civilization civilization depends on it without without innovation obviously
without without innovation obviously
without without innovation obviously progress would be slow and random
progress would be slow and random
progress would be slow and random infrequent maybe even improbable so this
infrequent maybe even improbable so this
infrequent maybe even improbable so this is the probably profound question that
is the probably profound question that
is the probably profound question that we ask ourselves can you actually
we ask ourselves can you actually
we ask ourselves can you actually cultivate innovation can you farm it
cultivate innovation can you farm it
cultivate innovation can you farm it like you would a crop can you create an
like you would a crop can you create an
like you would a crop can you create an environment that’s nurturing so that
environment that’s nurturing so that
environment that’s nurturing so that ideas will actually grow well the story
ideas will actually grow well the story
ideas will actually grow well the story I want to tell you about today is the
I want to tell you about today is the
I want to tell you about today is the story of the Pennsylvania biotechnology
story of the Pennsylvania biotechnology
story of the Pennsylvania biotechnology Center which we believe is something of
Center which we believe is something of
Center which we believe is something of an innovation farm and the story of the
an innovation farm and the story of the
an innovation farm and the story of the creation of the Pennsylvania biotech
creation of the Pennsylvania biotech
creation of the Pennsylvania biotech center which is a business incubator
center which is a business incubator
center which is a business incubator nonprofit business incubator is in
nonprofit business incubator is in
nonprofit business incubator is in itself a pretty innovative story this
itself a pretty innovative story this
itself a pretty innovative story this this Center which is in Bucks County it
this Center which is in Bucks County it
this Center which is in Bucks County it was created by the hepatitis B
was created by the hepatitis B
was created by the hepatitis B foundation which my wife and I had
foundation which my wife and I had
foundation which my wife and I had another couple from Pennsylvania started
another couple from Pennsylvania started
another couple from Pennsylvania started about 26 years ago but this biotech
about 26 years ago but this biotech
about 26 years ago but this biotech center was created just 10 years ago as
center was created just 10 years ago as
center was created just 10 years ago as an old factory that was falling apart
an old factory that was falling apart
an old factory that was falling apart and falling down and and I’ll tell you
and falling down and and I’ll tell you
and falling down and and I’ll tell you about how we put ourselves in the middle
about how we put ourselves in the middle
about how we put ourselves in the middle of it this nonprofit foundation and and
of it this nonprofit foundation and and
of it this nonprofit foundation and and in a way that our ideas were intended to
in a way that our ideas were intended to
in a way that our ideas were intended to bubble out and create new new jobs new
bubble out and create new new jobs new
bubble out and create new new jobs new companies and drugs
companies and drugs
companies and drugs no use medically to help people so this
no use medically to help people so this
no use medically to help people so this is a story of the biotech center it’s
is a story of the biotech center it’s
is a story of the biotech center it’s the story of the hepatitis B foundation
the story of the hepatitis B foundation
the story of the hepatitis B foundation and it’s also the story of a way forward
and it’s also the story of a way forward
and it’s also the story of a way forward for innovation but let me first start
for innovation but let me first start
for innovation but let me first start and tell you a little bit about why we
and tell you a little bit about why we
and tell you a little bit about why we started the hepatitis B Foundation and
started the hepatitis B Foundation and
started the hepatitis B Foundation and what hepatitis B is so as you can see
what hepatitis B is so as you can see
what hepatitis B is so as you can see from my tie here this this picture here
from my tie here this this picture here
from my tie here this this picture here is an electron micrograph of the
is an electron micrograph of the
is an electron micrograph of the hepatitis B virus and it’s actually I
hepatitis B virus and it’s actually I
hepatitis B virus and it’s actually I think pretty attractive and makes a nice
think pretty attractive and makes a nice
think pretty attractive and makes a nice piece of makes a nice piece of fashion
piece of makes a nice piece of fashion
piece of makes a nice piece of fashion but um but this is a photograph it’s
but um but this is a photograph it’s
but um but this is a photograph it’s called an electron micrograph because
called an electron micrograph because
called an electron micrograph because hepatitis B so small you can only see
hepatitis B so small you can only see
hepatitis B so small you can only see with an electron microscope but of
with an electron microscope but of
with an electron microscope but of course I think it’s a kind of an elegant
course I think it’s a kind of an elegant
course I think it’s a kind of an elegant virus and elegant thing to see and it’s
virus and elegant thing to see and it’s
virus and elegant thing to see and it’s modeled here by John Culp from our
modeled here by John Culp from our
modeled here by John Culp from our Center the research institute that we
Center the research institute that we
Center the research institute that we run the Bloomberg Institute but what
run the Bloomberg Institute but what
run the Bloomberg Institute but what hepatitis B does is not beautiful what
hepatitis B does is not beautiful what
hepatitis B does is not beautiful what it does is it infects the liver healthy
it does is it infects the liver healthy
it does is it infects the liver healthy liver shown there and after decades of
liver shown there and after decades of
liver shown there and after decades of damage to the liver damage delivered
damage to the liver damage delivered
damage to the liver damage delivered eventually causes cirrhosis that’s liver
eventually causes cirrhosis that’s liver
eventually causes cirrhosis that’s liver hardening and then often cancer that
hardening and then often cancer that
hardening and then often cancer that happens in about ten to fifteen percent
happens in about ten to fifteen percent
happens in about ten to fifteen percent of the people who have the virus in in
of the people who have the virus in in
of the people who have the virus in in the men can’t get rid of it my wife and
the men can’t get rid of it my wife and
the men can’t get rid of it my wife and I encountered a family that was need
I encountered a family that was need
I encountered a family that was need their child had hepatitis B and we
their child had hepatitis B and we
their child had hepatitis B and we wanted to help them 26 years ago those
wanted to help them 26 years ago those
wanted to help them 26 years ago those were the dark ages of hepatitis B but
were the dark ages of hepatitis B but
were the dark ages of hepatitis B but you could vaccinate people against the
you could vaccinate people against the
you could vaccinate people against the virus and protect them from infection
virus and protect them from infection
virus and protect them from infection and that’s because of the work of Barack
and that’s because of the work of Barack
and that’s because of the work of Barack Bloomberg berry Bloomberg has we came to
Bloomberg berry Bloomberg has we came to
Bloomberg berry Bloomberg has we came to know him he won the Nobel Prize for
know him he won the Nobel Prize for
know him he won the Nobel Prize for discovery of hepatitis B I’m showing a
discovery of hepatitis B I’m showing a
discovery of hepatitis B I’m showing a seminal paper here here on this slide
seminal paper here here on this slide
seminal paper here here on this slide and we went to dr. Bloomberg who did his
and we went to dr. Bloomberg who did his
and we went to dr. Bloomberg who did his Nobel prize-winning work at the National
Nobel prize-winning work at the National
Nobel prize-winning work at the National Institutes of Health and Fox Chase and
Institutes of Health and Fox Chase and
Institutes of Health and Fox Chase and asked him to help us because sure if you
asked him to help us because sure if you
asked him to help us because sure if you didn’t have hepatitis B you could be
didn’t have hepatitis B you could be
didn’t have hepatitis B you could be protected and today there’s Universal
protected and today there’s Universal
protected and today there’s Universal vaccination for people in the United
vaccination for people in the United
vaccination for people in the United States against hepatitis B thanks to dr.
States against hepatitis B thanks to dr.
States against hepatitis B thanks to dr. Bloomberg and the work of others
Bloomberg and the work of others
Bloomberg and the work of others obviously but if you had the virus in
obviously but if you had the virus in
obviously but if you had the virus in you you couldn’t get it out and in fact
you you couldn’t get it out and in fact
you you couldn’t get it out and in fact this was a big problem remains a big
this was a big problem remains a big
this was a big problem remains a big problem as illustrated on this map of
problem as illustrated on this map of
problem as illustrated on this map of the world in the orange areas shows you
the world in the orange areas shows you
the world in the orange areas shows you where hepatitis B is there are more than
where hepatitis B is there are more than
where hepatitis B is there are more than 300 million people who have the virus in
300 million people who have the virus in
300 million people who have the virus in their bodies they can’t get it out they
their bodies they can’t get it out they
their bodies they can’t get it out they didn’t get the vaccine or the vaccine
didn’t get the vaccine or the vaccine
didn’t get the vaccine or the vaccine didn’t work but look at where most of
didn’t work but look at where most of
didn’t work but look at where most of those people are colored in the in the
those people are colored in the in the
those people are colored in the in the orange and in the reddish areas they’re
orange and in the reddish areas they’re
orange and in the reddish areas they’re in asia and they’re in africa and 26
in asia and they’re in africa and 26
in asia and they’re in africa and 26 years ago this of course was even more
years ago this of course was even more
years ago this of course was even more of an undeveloped area of the world and
of an undeveloped area of the world and
of an undeveloped area of the world and there wasn’t much interest in the United
there wasn’t much interest in the United
there wasn’t much interest in the United States that nice green area in helping
States that nice green area in helping
States that nice green area in helping people with hepatitis B if you had it
people with hepatitis B if you had it
people with hepatitis B if you had it interesting the vaccine but not have you
interesting the vaccine but not have you
interesting the vaccine but not have you had it so we asked dr. Blumberg to help
had it so we asked dr. Blumberg to help
had it so we asked dr. Blumberg to help us start this foundation to cure people
us start this foundation to cure people
us start this foundation to cure people of hepatitis B deliver drugs to treat
of hepatitis B deliver drugs to treat
of hepatitis B deliver drugs to treat people with hepatitis B remember it
people with hepatitis B remember it
people with hepatitis B remember it causes liver cancer and most people who
causes liver cancer and most people who
causes liver cancer and most people who have hepatitis B in the world got it at
have hepatitis B in the world got it at
have hepatitis B in the world got it at Birth from their moms who were infected
Birth from their moms who were infected
Birth from their moms who were infected and he did he offer to help us and we
and he did he offer to help us and we
and he did he offer to help us and we created this little nonprofit foundation
created this little nonprofit foundation
created this little nonprofit foundation called hepatitis B foundation of course
called hepatitis B foundation of course
called hepatitis B foundation of course our goal was very ambitious we wanted to
our goal was very ambitious we wanted to
our goal was very ambitious we wanted to cure people of hepatitis B and we wanted
cure people of hepatitis B and we wanted
cure people of hepatitis B and we wanted to do that by bringing scientists
to do that by bringing scientists
to do that by bringing scientists together under one roof to work on a
together under one roof to work on a
together under one roof to work on a cure pretty unlikely and at that time I
cure pretty unlikely and at that time I
cure pretty unlikely and at that time I was just beginning at Jefferson Medical
was just beginning at Jefferson Medical
was just beginning at Jefferson Medical School my wife was it was a nurse just
School my wife was it was a nurse just
School my wife was it was a nurse just beginning as a nurse and we didn’t have
beginning as a nurse and we didn’t have
beginning as a nurse and we didn’t have much money even dr. Blumberg didn’t have
much money even dr. Blumberg didn’t have
much money even dr. Blumberg didn’t have much fun even spent his Nobel prize
much fun even spent his Nobel prize
much fun even spent his Nobel prize money no he even dr. Blumberg didn’t
money no he even dr. Blumberg didn’t
money no he even dr. Blumberg didn’t have enough money to help us so we were
have enough money to help us so we were
have enough money to help us so we were modeling ourselves after some you know
modeling ourselves after some you know
modeling ourselves after some you know the manhattan project or the or the
the manhattan project or the or the
the manhattan project or the or the where they came together and put build a
where they came together and put build a
where they came together and put build a bomb or more charitably the the moonshot
bomb or more charitably the the moonshot
bomb or more charitably the the moonshot that was going to be too hard to do so
that was going to be too hard to do so
that was going to be too hard to do so but that we hatched the idea though with
but that we hatched the idea though with
but that we hatched the idea though with and this is the this is one of the steps
and this is the this is one of the steps
and this is the this is one of the steps in nurturing innovation that if we’re
in nurturing innovation that if we’re
in nurturing innovation that if we’re going to be so good with our thinking
going to be so good with our thinking
going to be so good with our thinking about spinning out ideas that will
about spinning out ideas that will
about spinning out ideas that will result in medicines for people with
result in medicines for people with
result in medicines for people with hepatitis B and liver cancer we’re going
hepatitis B and liver cancer we’re going
hepatitis B and liver cancer we’re going to have something of commercial value
to have something of commercial value
to have something of commercial value why don’t we why don’t we build a
why don’t we why don’t we build a
why don’t we why don’t we build a biotechnology business incubator
biotechnology business incubator
biotechnology business incubator and we found this old factory in in
and we found this old factory in in
and we found this old factory in in outside of Doylestown Pennsylvania
outside of Doylestown Pennsylvania
outside of Doylestown Pennsylvania 110,000 square feet what was empty space
110,000 square feet what was empty space
110,000 square feet what was empty space 146 people had lost their jobs that was
146 people had lost their jobs that was
146 people had lost their jobs that was kind of sad place was in deterioration
kind of sad place was in deterioration
kind of sad place was in deterioration we would buy it put ourselves in the
we would buy it put ourselves in the
we would buy it put ourselves in the middle with our scientists create a
middle with our scientists create a
middle with our scientists create a Research Institute we know called the
Research Institute we know called the
Research Institute we know called the Bloomberg Institute and we sit there and
Bloomberg Institute and we sit there and
Bloomberg Institute and we sit there and we’d spin out ideas and little companies
we’d spin out ideas and little companies
we’d spin out ideas and little companies and then maybe other professors from
and then maybe other professors from
and then maybe other professors from other universities who have ideas would
other universities who have ideas would
other universities who have ideas would come and spend time with us on their
come and spend time with us on their
come and spend time with us on their sabbaticals or taking leaves to spin out
sabbaticals or taking leaves to spin out
sabbaticals or taking leaves to spin out their ideas and what happened was this
their ideas and what happened was this
their ideas and what happened was this ten years ago Oh people from pharma came
ten years ago Oh people from pharma came
ten years ago Oh people from pharma came to set up companies people from other
to set up companies people from other
to set up companies people from other universities came and and ten years
universities came and and ten years
universities came and and ten years later actually nine years later we
later actually nine years later we
later actually nine years later we commissioned an economic impact study
commissioned an economic impact study
commissioned an economic impact study which found a really some remarkable
which found a really some remarkable
which found a really some remarkable accomplishments of this center the
accomplishments of this center the
accomplishments of this center the center has had more than 1.8 billion
center has had more than 1.8 billion
center has had more than 1.8 billion dollars of beneficial impact on the on
dollars of beneficial impact on the on
dollars of beneficial impact on the on the region we went from very few jobs
the region we went from very few jobs
the region we went from very few jobs actually there were only 17 of us when
actually there were only 17 of us when
actually there were only 17 of us when we got there to now more than 350 we’re
we got there to now more than 350 we’re
we got there to now more than 350 we’re about to build a fourth building to
about to build a fourth building to
about to build a fourth building to accommodate 19 more labs will be another
accommodate 19 more labs will be another
accommodate 19 more labs will be another 100 people there hopefully in about two
100 people there hopefully in about two
100 people there hopefully in about two years and and of course it’s not just
years and and of course it’s not just
years and and of course it’s not just numbers but the companies that have spun
numbers but the companies that have spun
numbers but the companies that have spun out of our place of course the hepatitis
out of our place of course the hepatitis
out of our place of course the hepatitis B foundation and the Bloomberg Institute
B foundation and the Bloomberg Institute
B foundation and the Bloomberg Institute our research organization are there but
our research organization are there but
our research organization are there but there are 35 to 38 small companies there
there are 35 to 38 small companies there
there are 35 to 38 small companies there right now and more than 60 have have
right now and more than 60 have have
right now and more than 60 have have spun out of our place and some of these
spun out of our place and some of these
spun out of our place and some of these companies are really worth mentioning at
companies are really worth mentioning at
companies are really worth mentioning at what one of them synergy pharmaceutics
what one of them synergy pharmaceutics
what one of them synergy pharmaceutics is worth more than 1.4 billion dollars
is worth more than 1.4 billion dollars
is worth more than 1.4 billion dollars it’s publicly traded drugs about to be
it’s publicly traded drugs about to be
it’s publicly traded drugs about to be approved called plecanatide novera a
approved called plecanatide novera a
approved called plecanatide novera a company dedicated to hepatitis B
company dedicated to hepatitis B
company dedicated to hepatitis B discovery was just acquired by Johnson &
discovery was just acquired by Johnson &
discovery was just acquired by Johnson & Johnson we have companies bought out of
Johnson we have companies bought out of
Johnson we have companies bought out of the place for more than five six hundred
the place for more than five six hundred
the place for more than five six hundred million dollars so it really has been a
million dollars so it really has been a
million dollars so it really has been a remarkable little creator farm for for
remarkable little creator farm for for
remarkable little creator farm for for new ideas but not just look at the
new ideas but not just look at the
new ideas but not just look at the companies that have been created but the
companies that have been created but the
companies that have been created but the people that work at our center are also
people that work at our center are also
people that work at our center are also very
very
very inspiring to me we have some of the
inspiring to me we have some of the
inspiring to me we have some of the finest most accomplished drug discovery
finest most accomplished drug discovery
finest most accomplished drug discovery experts in the world at our place we
experts in the world at our place we
experts in the world at our place we have what we call our wall of fame and
have what we call our wall of fame and
have what we call our wall of fame and their six individuals shown here we’re
their six individuals shown here we’re
their six individuals shown here we’re going to add two more by the end of the
going to add two more by the end of the
going to add two more by the end of the year or certainly by January these are
year or certainly by January these are
year or certainly by January these are the individuals whose medicines have
the individuals whose medicines have
the individuals whose medicines have been approved for use by the US FDA that
been approved for use by the US FDA that
been approved for use by the US FDA that is a real milestone I mean you would be
is a real milestone I mean you would be
is a real milestone I mean you would be hard-pressed to find another institution
hard-pressed to find another institution
hard-pressed to find another institution certainly a non-profit with so many
certainly a non-profit with so many
certainly a non-profit with so many laureates like this at its institution
laureates like this at its institution
laureates like this at its institution most notably this year is is Mike Sophie
most notably this year is is Mike Sophie
most notably this year is is Mike Sophie in the center whose whose drug is a cure
in the center whose whose drug is a cure
in the center whose whose drug is a cure for hepatitis C yes hepatitis C is now
for hepatitis C yes hepatitis C is now
for hepatitis C yes hepatitis C is now curable not be hepatitis C is curable in
curable not be hepatitis C is curable in
curable not be hepatitis C is curable in part because of the drug sofosbuvir or
part because of the drug sofosbuvir or
part because of the drug sofosbuvir or Saval d invented by Mike Sofia and his
Saval d invented by Mike Sofia and his
Saval d invented by Mike Sofia and his colleagues he is at our Center working
colleagues he is at our Center working
colleagues he is at our Center working on a cure for hepatitis B having spun
on a cure for hepatitis B having spun
on a cure for hepatitis B having spun out another company with our
out another company with our
out another company with our technologies called initially on cornell
technologies called initially on cornell
technologies called initially on cornell arbutus but um Pat Lam is there the
arbutus but um Pat Lam is there the
arbutus but um Pat Lam is there the inventor of a pic sub and Dorsey is
inventor of a pic sub and Dorsey is
inventor of a pic sub and Dorsey is there the inventor of crixivan Bruce
there the inventor of crixivan Bruce
there the inventor of crixivan Bruce marrying off the inventor of topiramate
marrying off the inventor of topiramate
marrying off the inventor of topiramate and soon soon we’ll have been gallop
and soon soon we’ll have been gallop
and soon soon we’ll have been gallop there the inventor of daclatasvir and
there the inventor of daclatasvir and
there the inventor of daclatasvir and Shalu Khan rochella by the inventor of
Shalu Khan rochella by the inventor of
Shalu Khan rochella by the inventor of plecanatide so we have we have really uh
plecanatide so we have we have really uh
plecanatide so we have we have really uh put together a remarkable group of
put together a remarkable group of
put together a remarkable group of people and now of course the hepatitis B
people and now of course the hepatitis B
people and now of course the hepatitis B foundation and its colleagues have spun
foundation and its colleagues have spun
foundation and its colleagues have spun out well I mentioned there are 38
out well I mentioned there are 38
out well I mentioned there are 38 companies at the center but we have spun
companies at the center but we have spun
companies at the center but we have spun out a number of drugs two of our drugs
out a number of drugs two of our drugs
out a number of drugs two of our drugs from from our laboratories are now in
from from our laboratories are now in
from from our laboratories are now in clinical trials some of our medical
clinical trials some of our medical
clinical trials some of our medical devices are now in use and of course and
devices are now in use and of course and
devices are now in use and of course and our detection markers of cancer and use
our detection markers of cancer and use
our detection markers of cancer and use we’re living the legacy of dr. Blumberg
we’re living the legacy of dr. Blumberg
we’re living the legacy of dr. Blumberg who’s shown here he passed away three
who’s shown here he passed away three
who’s shown here he passed away three years ago we changed the name of our
years ago we changed the name of our
years ago we changed the name of our Institute in his honor he’s shown here
Institute in his honor he’s shown here
Institute in his honor he’s shown here meeting with some of our students and
meeting with some of our students and
meeting with some of our students and young faculty and one of dr. Bloomberg’s
young faculty and one of dr. Bloomberg’s
young faculty and one of dr. Bloomberg’s missions was also training in academics
missions was also training in academics
missions was also training in academics and of course we have a very active
and of course we have a very active
and of course we have a very active college and high school program here are
college and high school program here are
college and high school program here are some of the summer college kids
some of the summer college kids
some of the summer college kids embracing a liver mascot when we go out
embracing a liver mascot when we go out
embracing a liver mascot when we go out the foundation goes out and promotes
the foundation goes out and promotes
the foundation goes out and promotes vaccination
vaccination
vaccination and screenings for whether or not you
and screenings for whether or not you
and screenings for whether or not you have hepatitis B so the foundation is
have hepatitis B so the foundation is
have hepatitis B so the foundation is now certainly one of the one of the
now certainly one of the one of the
now certainly one of the one of the leading portals of entry for information
leading portals of entry for information
leading portals of entry for information about hepatitis in the country the
about hepatitis in the country the
about hepatitis in the country the center is home to the largest
center is home to the largest
center is home to the largest concentration of hepatitis B in liver
concentration of hepatitis B in liver
concentration of hepatitis B in liver cancer scientists at a non-profit so I
cancer scientists at a non-profit so I
cancer scientists at a non-profit so I think definitely this was a way to help
think definitely this was a way to help
think definitely this was a way to help our foundation but it also shows I think
our foundation but it also shows I think
our foundation but it also shows I think pretty clearly that we can nurture and
pretty clearly that we can nurture and
pretty clearly that we can nurture and cultivate it innovation in actually a
cultivate it innovation in actually a
cultivate it innovation in actually a very deliberate way in a knowledge
very deliberate way in a knowledge
very deliberate way in a knowledge community and a stimulating intellectual
community and a stimulating intellectual
community and a stimulating intellectual community some of the one you have here
community some of the one you have here
community some of the one you have here thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
Be First to Comment