The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) recently concluded that Trikafta, a new, groundbreaking cystic fibrosis drug developed by Vertex, isn't worth its price. But ICER's cost-effectiveness analyses routinely refuse to include variables that do not suit the organization's political agenda. Insisting on modeling a drug's launch price as its price forever without taking into account the fact that it will go generic is distinctly disingenuous.

Many leaders believe that pursuing novelty should be the biotech industry's sole purpose. Though "novelty at all costs" resonates with a public skeptical of incremental innovation, this principle can do more harm than good. A therapy or intervention that solves an unmet need is novel in every way that matters. Let's change the story and invest in drug development to address needs not yet met by the known uses of generic drugs.

Members of the RA Capital team share knowledge, resources, and perspectives on the Covid-19 pandemic. Explore our collection of materials including interviews, written articles, and audio conversations on key aspects of this crisis with an eye toward increasing the focus and efficiency of ongoing public health initiatives.

If you are looking forward to a career in biotech, then you are an investor. Sound strange? Not at all--time is money, you are investing your time in a company, and they will pay you in both cash and equity. 10,000 shares of one company could be worth much more than 30,000 shares of another company, but to know when that’s true, you need to know what questions to ask.

The Great American Drug Deal examines the healthcare landscape through the lens of the Biotech Social Contract, including the government's role in inventing drugs, direct-to-consumer advertising, the opioid crisis, the price-jacking of old drugs, and the impact on America of lower drug costs in other countries.

Evercore ISI — We are continuing our series of discussions with leading healthcare and biopharma portfolio managers as we try to leverage the top minds in the investment industry to help inform our own views in this rapidly changing biopharma era. RA Capital is one of the leading dedicated healthcare investment funds and has been built over nearly two decades with a unique approach to analyzing therapeutic categories...

Investors that share your vision of your company should be willing to invest larger amounts (that are harder to sell), even at high valuations, than those who don’t appreciate its full potential but sense an opportunity for quick gains (and would only want smaller, flippable amounts).

The Biotech Social Contract series on Medium defines the biopharmaceutical industry’s social contract with America, examines practices that deviate from that contract, and proposes refinements to healthcare policy to ensure that our continued investment in scientific progress ultimately yields affordable, effective therapeutics for future generations.

BioCentury — After a decade of focusing on public investments and later adding private investments to its remit, RA Capital is getting into the business of starting companies from whole cloth. The firm thinks having a dedicated financier from start to acquisition or profitability ofers the continuity of support that many companies are seeking...

FINalternatives — The first word that comes to mind when chatting with the team at Boston-based RA Capital Management is intriguing. The company is basically a sophisticated life sciences think-tank wrapped in a fund that finances private, IPO and follow-on financings for a portfolio of early-stage biotech companies. The company’s crossover fund, offered to institutional investors, has more than $1 billion in AUM...

Partnering News — Flexibility is the watchword for investment at RA Capital Management. As Peter Kolchinsky, managing director, explained, “Investors should be as flexible as possible...

Xconomy National — Anyone either celebrating or fearing the start of a Hepatitis C drug price war should take a break from the excitement to consider that a far more nuanced and profound game is at hand...

Xconomy Boston — The Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Foundation’s big win in venture philanthropy can fuel constructive competition among companies developing innovative CF drugs, benefiting both patients and the healthcare system by increasing future treatment options and reducing their cost...

Xconomy Boston — Wall Street is buzzing with anticipation about the first new all-oral drugs for hepatitis C approaching the market. The high rate of HCV infection and dissatisfaction with current treatments have created a potential multi-billion dollar bonanza for drug companies...

IN VIVO — Industry must think differently about funding high-risk/reward development of drug candidates against novel targets. Multiplexed Phase II proof-of-concept trials can light a path toward lower-risk pivotal studies and provide a model for building biotechs to deliver what patients, providers, payors, and investors all want: solutions...

If you are considering starting your own biotech company, you will appreciate the wealth of practical information packed into The Entrepreneur’s Guide to a Biotech Startup. This free 100-page eBook is based on personal interviews with entrepreneurs, investors, attorneys, and other professionals who understand biotech venture creation and are eager to share their insights.

IN VIVO — Biotech executives make strategic decisions based on incentives that aren’t necessarily aligned to benefit either the company’s investors or employees. Three modifications to business as usual would help solve the problem and lead to improvements in the productivity of people and capital in the sector...